![](/template/termwiki/images/likesmall.jpg)
Home > Industry/Domain > Energy > Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy
Nuclear binding energy is the energy required to split a nucleus of an atom into its component parts. The component parts are neutrons and protons, which are collectively called nucleons. The binding energy of nuclei is always a positive number, since all nuclei require net energy to separate them into individual protons and neutrons.
Industry: Energy
Add a new termContributors in Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy
reactivity
Energy; Nuclear energy
A term expressing the departure of a reactor system from criticality. A positive reactivity addition indicates a move toward supercriticality (power increase). A negative reactivity addition ...
radiology
Energy; Nuclear energy
That branch of medicine dealing with the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of radiant energy, including x-rays and radioisotopes.
radiopharmaceutical
Energy; Nuclear energy
A pharmaceutical drug that emits radiation and is used in diagnostic or therapeutic medical procedures. Radioisotopes that have short half-lives are generally preferred to minimize the radiation dose ...
reactor trip
Energy; Nuclear energy
A term that is used by pressurized water reactors for a reactor scram (see Scram).
reactor oversight process (ROP)
Energy; Nuclear energy
The process by which the NRC monitors and evaluates the performance of commercial nuclear power plants. Designed to focus on those plant activities that are most important to safety, the process uses ...
reactor core
Energy; Nuclear energy
The central portion of a nuclear reactor, which contains the fuel assemblies, moderator, neutron poisons, control rods, and support structures. The reactor core is where fission takes place.