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There are three types of nuclear reactions:

1. Radioactive Decay
2. Nuclear Fission
3. Nuclear Fusion

1. Uranium’s isotope, which is a different form of an element, U-235, has unstable, or radioactive, nuclei. Nuclei(plural) and nucleus(single) are the core(s) of atoms. Atoms make up everything. When a nucleus is radioactive, it goes through several stages when it is transferred to a stable nucleus. The period is called a half-life. A half-life for U-235 is about 4.5 billion years. As it decays, it sends out energy in the form of radioactive particles. There are three types of particles.

The first one is Alpha Particles. Alpha particles are made of two protons and two neutrons. They aren't strong, and can’t travel through the air very long. It can be stopped by a thick piece of paper.

Beta Particles are fast moving electrons. They are a lot stronger than alpha particles, but can be stopped by a sheet of aluminum.

Although not a particle, Gamma Radiation is released by the decaying nucleus. Gamma radiation has lots of energy and short wavelength. If you wanted to stop gamma radiation, you would have to use a lead sheet about 2-3 inches thick!

Once the transformation is complete, the decaying nucleus is formed into a stable nucleus.

2. Nuclear fission is created when scientists shoot a very fast neutron at the nucleus of an atom, causing the atom to burst. That sends more detached neutrons, hitting more nuclei, and then more neutrons detach, and so on. This is called a chain reaction. Scientists have to find an element that has easily split nuclei. They use Uranium’s isotope, U-235. Uranium has two isotopes, but U-238, the second one, can’t be split easily at all. In Nuclear power plants, they place U-235 rods in water, and the chain reaction occurs. The heat from this reaction turns the water into steam, and turns a turbine, which is connected to a generator. The generator will form it into energy, and the process is start all over again.

3. Nuclear Fusion is created when two lightweight nuclei combine to make a heavier nucleus. The nucleus formed has a lot less mass (area), so the lost mass is converted into energy. Scientists are working on using nuclear fusion by making a big donut shaped reactor and shooting a nucleus at another nucleus hundreds of miles per hour. Nuclear fusion is the energy of the future.

As you can see, there are many ways to create nuclear energy. They are done in nuclear reactors, and can generate huge amounts of energy.