energy, sources of: Nuclear Energy

The development of nuclear energy made available another source of energy. The heat of a nuclear reactor can be used to produce steam, which then can be directed through a turbine to drive an electric generator, the propellers of a large ship, or some other machine. In 1999, 23% of the electricity generated in the United States derived from nuclear reactors; however, since the 1980s, the construction and application of nuclear reactors in the United States has slowed because of concern about the dangers of the resulting radioactive waste and the possibility of a disastrous nuclear meltdown (see Three Mile Island; Chernobyl; Fukushima).

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• The Search for New Sources of Energy
• Environmental Considerations
• Nuclear Energy
• Electrical Energy
• Heat Energy
• Chemical and Mechanical Energy
• Bibliography

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