num_pages: 22
description: The History of Nuclear EnergyAlthough they are tiny, atoms have a large amountof energy holding their nuclei together. Certainisotopes of some elements can be split and will releasepart of their energy as heat. This splitting is calledfission. The heat released in fission can be used tohelp generate electricity in powerplants.Uranium-235 (U-235) is one of the isotopes thatfissions easily. During fission, U-235 atoms absorbloose neutrons. This causes U-235 to becomeunstable and split into two light atoms called fissionproducts.
language: English
title: The History of Nuclear Energy
publisher: U.S. Government and www.survivalebooks.com