Mark Hodgson, age 10, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, for his question:
How does nuclear energv differ from atomic energy?
Scientists try to use exactly the right words and they like to have one correct name for every item. After all, their work must be accurate down to the finest detail or the results are incorrect. These results must be checked and rechecked by other scientists. To do this, all of them must understand every step of the work This is one reason why the world of science is mighty particular about using the right words. However, nothing is 100 per cent perfect. It so happens that a slight misunderstanding arose in the names of nuclear and atomic energy.
Some 30 years ago, the world of science released the energy in the heart of the atom. The great event caused great excitement and at such times people often talk before they have time to think. In this case, they quickly named the new miracle atomic energy. It was, of course, first used to create the A bomb, alias the atomic bomb. The name atomic energy stuck. Later, when it was used for peaceful projects, we talked about atomic power plants. In fact, the U.S. government body that deals with aspects of this energy still is called the Atomic Energy Commission.
However, in the meantime, more and more scientists realized that the term atomic energy could be misleading. The tiny atom is an infinitesimal bundle of assorted energies. But the energies in the central nucleus are very different from the energy of the electrons that swarm around it. Electrons tend to leave home or join other atoms. When this happens they use their energy to create electricity or to form chemical compounds with other atoms. These are common everyday events and, strictly speaking, their energy comes from electrons that belong to atoms.
The energies locked inside the central nucleus are much more powerful and, thank goodness, very hard to pry loose. Hence, it seemed logical to call them nuclear energies to distinguish them from the milder chemical activities of the atom's electron shells. Naturally, nuclear energy also comes from the mighty little atom. Hence, it is not downright incorrect to call it atomic energy. Nuclear energy and atomic energy mean the same thing, though nuclear energy is more precise.
Nuclear energy is released when dramatic changes occur in the tight fisted nucleus. A nucleus particle either may be shattered loose or shot away by a large unstable atom, such as uranium. This is called nuclear fission. It releases nuclear energy and the smaller nucleus becomes a different atom. Nuclear fusion occurs when smaller nuclei fuse to make larger atoms. In this case, unused fragments are released as nuclear energy.
The A bomb exploded by nuclear fission, and nuclear fission is used in our nuclear power plants. The much more stupendous H bombs exploded by nuclear fusion, the same type of energy as the sun's. Many scientists suspected that nuclear fusion could never be tamed for peaceful uses. But a few weeks ago researchers announced that maybe, just maybe, they are learning how it can be done. So perhaps someday our electricity may be generated by the most stupendous atomic energy called nuclear fusion. However, this event belongs in the future.