Here's how it works:
* Fissionable material: The plants use fissionable materials like uranium-235 or plutonium-239 as fuel.
* Neutron bombardment: These materials are bombarded with neutrons, causing their nuclei to split into smaller nuclei.
* Energy release: This splitting process releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat and neutrons.
* Heat transfer: The heat is used to boil water, creating steam.
* Turbine and generator: The steam drives a turbine, which in turn rotates a generator to produce electricity.
Important note: Fusion reactions, which are the process that powers the sun, are currently being researched as a potential source of energy, but they are not yet commercially viable.
