
Nuclear reactor - Wikipedia
A nuclear reactor is a device used to sustain a controlled fission nuclear chain reaction. They are used for commercial electricity, marine propulsion, weapons production and research. Fissile …
NUCLEAR 101: How Does a Nuclear Reactor Work?
May 19, 2025 · Reactors use uranium for nuclear fuel. The uranium is processed into small ceramic pellets and stacked together into sealed metal tubes called fuel rods. Typically, more …
Nuclear Power Reactors - World Nuclear Association
Dec 5, 2025 · Nuclear reactors work by using the heat energy released from splitting atoms of certain elements to generate electricity. Most nuclear electricity is generated using just two …
Nuclear reactor | Definition, History, & Components | Britannica
3 days ago · nuclear reactor, any of a class of devices that can initiate and control a self-sustaining series of nuclear fission s. Nuclear reactors are used as research tools, as systems …
What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power
Nov 11, 2025 · What is nuclear fission? Nuclear fission is a reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, while releasing energy. For instance, when hit by a …
Science 101: Nuclear Energy - Argonne National Laboratory
Nuclear power supplies electricity to the homes of tens of millions in America each and every day. How do nuclear reactors deliver so much power? — It all starts with heat. Heat is released in a …
Nuclear reactor - Energy Education
A nuclear reactor is a system used to initiate and contain a nuclear chain reaction, and they have many useful applications. These nuclear reactions produce thermal energy through either …
How a Nuclear Reactor Works | NEI
A nuclear reactor is like an enormous, high-tech tea kettle. It takes sophisticated equipment and a highly trained workforce to make it work, but it’s that simple.
Nuclear Reactors: Principle, Types, Uses, Examples, Risks
Jul 4, 2025 · Nuclear reactors are advanced structures that control various chemical and physical processes. Facilitators, cooling mechanisms, fuel rods, and control rods are among the …
How Nuclear Reactors Work - EPRI
How Nuclear Reactors Work Key Takeaways Nuclear energy is the only commercially available power source that harnesses the massive amount of energy stored in the atomic nucleus, …