Nuclear power explained to kids

Nuclear power is a type of energy that comes from atoms. Atoms are tiny particles that make up everything in the universe. They are so small that you can't see them, even with a microscope. Nuclear power plants use uranium to create heat and electricity. Uranium is a metal that is found in the ground. It is mined, or dug up, like coal. Once it is mined, the uranium is made into small pellets. These pellets are then put into fuel rods. The fuel rods are placed inside a nuclear reactor. The reactor is the part of the nuclear power plant where the uranium is used to create heat. The heat is used to turn water into steam. The steam turns a turbine. The turbine is connected to a generator. The generator makes electricity. Nuclear power plants don't produce air pollution. They also don't produce greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. They are one of the things that cause global warming. Nuclear power plants are very expensive to build. They also require a lot of care and maintenance. If something goes wrong at a nuclear power plant, it could cause an accident. Nuclear accidents can release harmful radiation into the environment. Despite the risks, nuclear power is a very important source of electricity. It produces about 20 percent of the electricity in the United States.