How does a nuclear power plant work?
A uranium nucleus is hit by a neutron and splits, releasing heat and more neutrons. That becomes a chain reaction inside the fuel rods, and control rods slide in to keep it steady. The heat boils water into steam, the steam spins a turbine, and the generator sends electricity out to a city.
Transcript
This is a uranium atom. It's heavy and a bit unstable. A tiny neutron flies in... And it splits in two!
Out come heat and more neutrons. Those split even more atoms. That's a chain reaction! It all happens inside fuel rods.
Their heat warms the water around them. Control rods soak up neutrons. Rods down, everything calms down. Rods up, it speeds up again.
The heat boils water into steam. Steam spins a turbine super fast. And that makes electricity! A transformer boosts the voltage.
Big power lines carry it far away. Another transformer steps it down. Little wires bring it to every home. Steam cools back into water.
And loops around again. Split atoms, boil water, spin a turbine, make power.
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