ABSTRACT
In just over two generations, or about 60 years, the term “nuclear energy” has gone from the realm of science fiction to become an indelible part of our daily vocabulary. The term conjures up different images to each of us depending upon where we live, what our opinions are, and what we do for a living. An important use of nuclear energy is in the generation of electricity. There are about 340 operating nuclear power plants throughout the world, and 113 plants currently operating in the United States. Three countries, France, Belgium, and Sweden, generate the majority of their electricity from nuclear reactors, while the U.S. meets about 22% of its electricity needs in this way. The energy derived from nuclear processes also has important uses in the chemical and medical fields, especially in diagnostic medicine in assessing how well our organs are working.
