~me people think nuclear power is both too dangerous and too expensive.

There are often demonstrations against it.

But there are good reasons for using nuclear

electricity. It can be produced fairly cleanly, and is an extra source of power. Some countries, like France and Belgium, would like to make nuclear energy their main source of power.

Anti-nuclear demonstrators

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'Qlitting the atom

-biect in the world is made up ·of tiny . / ""alled "atoms." In 1939 scientists

( ,'V~ how to split the atom.

{J found that atoms of a metal called

.aium would split into two. This splitting i: called "fission." It produces great heat. During fission the atoms throw out even smaller particles called "neutrons."

These neutrons crash into other atoms and break them apart. This whole process iscallec a "chain reaction," and produces the constant heat needed to make electricity. This happens in the "reactor" room (shown opposite), of a nuclear power station.

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Splitting. the atom

Every object in the world is made up of tiny particles called "atoms." In 1939 scientists discovered how to split the atom.

They found that atoms of a metal called uranium would split into two. This splitting is called "fission." It produces great heat. During fission the atoms throw out even smaller particles called "neutrons."

These neutrons crash into other atoms and break them apart. This whole process is called a "chain reaction," andproduces the constant heat needed to make electricity. This happens in the "reactor" room (shown opposite); of a . nuclear power station.

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(ome people think nuclear power is both too dangerous and too expensive. There are often demonstrations against it.

But there are good reasons for using nuclear electricity. It can be produced fairly cleanly, and is an extra source of power. Some countries, like France and Belgium, would like to make I nuclear energy their main source of power. I

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29