Question

(i) What is nuclear energy?
(ii) Name the process used for producing electricity using nuclear energy.

Answer 1

Firstly, we have to understand the definition of nuclear energy. Then, we are asked to write the name of the process used for producing electricity from nuclear energy. In order to avail the knowledge of producing electricity from nuclear energy, we will need to recall the sources of nuclear energy and the process involved in it.

Complete answer:
(i) Nuclear energy is defined as the atomic energy which is released in enormous amounts which results due to effect in its nuclei. It is the energy stored in bonds of a nucleus of an atom.Nucleus energy is divided into two categories:
(a) Nuclear fusion: It results due to the combination of two atoms to form a larger atom.
(b) Nuclear fission: It results due to the splitting of an atom into two atoms.

(ii) The process used for producing electricity using nuclear energy is nuclear fission. Let us understand what nuclear fission refers to.Nuclear fission is defined as a process in which a heavy nucleus of an atom splits into two or more lighter nuclei. While splitting there is an enormous amount of energy being released which is in the form of gamma photons.This heat energy is converted into electrical energy using a turbine generator. Therefore, using the process of nuclear fission, nuclear energy can be converted into electrical energy for producing electricity.

Note: Currently, the majority of electricity production is done using nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium. Nuclear power is obtained from three processes namely nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion. We have discussed nuclear fission in the above question. Nuclear decay is the process by which an unstable nucleus of an atom loses its energy through radiation and transforms into a daughter nucleus which is stable. There are three types of decays, alpha decay, beta decay and gamma decay. Nuclear fusion is the process in which two lighter nuclei combine to form a heavy nucleus.