May 19, 2025 · Nuclear reactors are the heart of a nuclear power plant. They contain and control nuclear chain reactions that produce heat through a physical process called fission.

A nuclear reactor is driven by the splitting of atoms, a process called fission, where a particle (a ‘neutron’) is fired at an atom, which then fissions into two smaller atoms and some additional …

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 …

Jul 4, 2025 · Nuclear reactors work by keeping up a controlled chain reaction. When a powerful atom, such as uranium-235, gets a neutron, it decays into small nuclei and produces heat plus …

Nuclear reactors produce heat by splitting atoms. This heat converts water into steam, which in turn turns a turbine that spins a magnet, causing electricity to flow to the grid.

Nov 11, 2025 · How does a nuclear power plant work? Inside nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors and their equipment contain and control the chain reactions, most commonly fuelled …

Nuclear plants are different because they do not burn anything to create steam. Instead, they split uranium atoms in a process called fission. As a result, unlike other energy sources, nuclear …

HOW DOES A REACTOR WORK? Nuclear reactors produce energy through fission, the process of splitting atoms. Fission occurs when a neutron strikes a larger atom, causing it to split into …

Sep 5, 2023 · Nuclear reactors generate energy through nuclear fission, where atomic nuclei split, releasing heat to produce steam that drives turbines for electricity.

In this article, we'll explain how nuclear reactors work, what happens when they malfunction, and the risks they pose to our health and the environment compared to other energy sources.