Subcritical reactor

A subcritical reactor is like a machine that uses nuclear energy to make electricity. It works like a big engine that changes the energy from the splitting of atoms into electricity. The splitting of the atoms is called 'fission'. Inside the reactor is a place for the atoms to be split apart and then the energy from that splitting is used to power up a turbine to make electricity. It's different from other kinds of electricity-making machines because the energy comes from splitting atoms, not burning things like coal or gasoline.