Fission fusion

• Nuclear fission


  The splitting of a large nucleus to produce two smaller ones. Two or three neutrons are also released in the process.
• Nuclear reactor


  A piece of equipment in which nuclear fission or fusion takes place.
• Neutron


  Uncharged subatomic particle, with a mass of 1 relative to a proton.
• Daughter nuclei


  The nuclei (centres of atoms) that are produced by a nuclear reaction. In nuclear fission the parent nucleus splits into two smaller daughter nuclei and releases energy.
• Chain reaction


  A nuclear chain reaction occurs when a neutron splits a nucleus, releasing more neutrons, which in turn go on to split even more nuclei.
• Turbine


  Revolving machine with blades that are turned by wind, water or steam. Turbines in a power station turn the generators.
• Generator


  An electromagnetic device that produces electricity when it is turned on.
• The energy from the neutrons powers a nuclear reactor.
• The fast moving neutrons carry most of the energy from the reaction with them (99%) but before the neutrons can collide with fresh uranium nuclei, they need to be slowed down.