Answer:
Fission and Fusion
Explanation:
There are two basic processes: fission and fusion. In both processes, mass is converted to energy according to the famous equation, e=mc2
In fission, heavy fuel (isotopes of uranium, plutonium, thorium, etc.) atoms split, releasing kinetic energy daughter particles and as radiation. In a reactor plant kinetic energy of the daughter particles is converted to thermal energy as the particles are slowed by the fuel matrix or primary coolant. Radiation is absorbed by various components of the reactor and converted to thermal energy. Thermal energy from both sources is then carried out of the reactor core by primary coolant to a turbine where it is converted to electrical energy which is then transmitted to the power grid.
In fusion, light atoms of hydrogen combine to form helium. Energy released from this reaction will be captured and used to generate electricity as well, once we have constructed a fusion reactor large enough to be self-sustaining (i.e. produce as much or more energy from fusion than needed to start the reaction going).
In the case of nuclear weapons, the tremendous energy from the nearly simultaneous fission/fusion reactions is used to create a fireball, intense radiation, and a large shock wave.
