Uranium
Definition
Uranium is a heavy metal used as fuel in nuclear reactors due to its ability to undergo fission and produce heat.
Analogy
Consider uranium as the coal of a nuclear power plant. Just like coal is burned to produce heat in a traditional power plant, uranium atoms are split to generate heat in a nuclear reactor.
Related terms
Uranium-238: The most common form of uranium found naturally, but it's less effective for producing nuclear energy than Uranium-235.
Enrichment: The process by which the concentration of Uranium-235 is increased so it can be used as fuel in nuclear reactors.
Plutonium: A radioactive metallic element that can also be used as fuel in nuclear reactors and is produced from Uranium-238 during the fission process.
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