There are two ways to extract atomic energy from atoms: nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
**Nuclear fission** is the process of splitting an atom into two smaller atoms, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. This energy can be used to generate electricity, heat homes, or power ships.
**Nuclear fusion** is the process of fusing two atoms together to form a larger atom, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. This energy is even more powerful than nuclear fission, but it is also much more difficult to achieve.
Nuclear fission is the process used in nuclear power plants, while nuclear fusion is still in the research and development stage.
In nuclear fission, a neutron is fired into an atom of uranium-235, causing it to split into two smaller atoms, such as krypton-92 and barium-141. This process releases a large amount of energy, as well as three neutrons. These neutrons can then go on to split other uranium-235 atoms, creating a chain reaction. This chain reaction is controlled in nuclear power plants to produce a desired amount of heat.
In nuclear fusion, two atoms of hydrogen are fused together to form a helium atom. This process releases a large amount of energy, as well as a neutron. This neutron can then go on to fuse with other hydrogen atoms, creating a chain reaction. However, nuclear fusion is much more difficult to achieve than nuclear fission, as it requires the atoms to be brought very close together under very high temperatures and pressures.
Both nuclear fission and nuclear fusion are powerful sources of energy, but they also pose some risks. Nuclear fission can produce radioactive waste, which can be harmful to the environment. Nuclear fusion also produces neutrons, which can damage materials. However, both technologies have the potential to provide a clean and sustainable source of energy for the future.