Nuclear energy is that energy that is released, either spontaneously or artificially, in nuclear reactions. But on the other hand, the term is also used to designate another situation that has to do with the use of the aforementioned energy for other purposes such as the obtaining electrical energy, thermal energy and mechanical energy through nuclear reactions. And then, in this sense, the application of energy may have a peaceful purpose or, failing that, a warlike purpose, serving to gain an advantage in some type of contest.
Nuclear energy is obtained basically through two ways, by the process of Nuclear fision (division of heavy atomic nuclei) or by nuclear fusion (union of very light atomic nuclei). During nuclear reactions an enormous amount of energy is released, as a consequence, part of the mass of the particles that are involved in the process is directly transformed into energy. For example, a nuclear reaction will be a thousand times more energetic than a chemical type reaction.
Nuclear energy may be transformed in an uncontrolled way, as is the case with Nuclear weapons (high explosive) or in a controlled manner, in the Nuclear reactors (physical installation in which a nuclear chain reaction is produced, maintained and controlled, allowing the production of electrical energy, thermal energy and mechanical energy).
Nuclear reactions take place in the nuclei of some isotopes of certain chemical elements, the most popular being the uranium fission, through which the aforementioned nuclear reactors work and on the side of the most common in nature, we find the fusion of the deuterium-tritium pair.
There are several disciplines and techniques that use nuclear energy as a basis for the development of other activities, which range from electricity generation in nuclear power plants, going through the nuclear medicine , which is used in clinics and hospitals and allows to see how the organs and tissues explored are working, as well as if there are alterations of those mentioned at the molecular level and even in the nuclear archeometry, which is a scientific discipline that uses physical and chemical methods in archaeological studies.
