Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. The energy released by an atom in a nuclear reaction.
WordNet
n. the energy released by a nuclear reaction [syn: nuclear energy]
Wikipedia
Atomic energy is energy carried by atoms. The term is originated in 1903 when Ernest Rutherford began to speak of the possibility of atomic energy. The term was popularized by H. G. Wells in the phrase, "splitting the atom", devised at a time prior to the discovery of the nucleus. Atomic energy may include:
- Nuclear binding energy, the energy required to split a nucleus of an atom.
- Nuclear potential energy, the potential energy of the particles inside an atomic nucleus.
- Nuclear reaction, a process in which nuclei or nuclear particles interact, resulting in products different from the initial ones; see also nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
- Radioactive decay, the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei (nuclides) emit subatomic particles.
- The energy of inter-atomic or chemical bonds, which holds atoms together in compounds.
Atomic energy is the source of Nuclear power, which uses sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity.
Usage examples of "atomic energy".
The last I heard the Atomic Energy Commission had the prospective supply earmarked twenty years ahead.
His most recent adventure, Tom Swift and His Giant Robot, concerned the capture of a crazed scientist, bent on destroying Tom's robot and his father's atomic energy plant.
But they're releasing atomic energy in that greater universe- and we're the atom!
If my theory's right, then I can release atomic energy myself and stop their release of our energy by just slightly upsetting their field, so that it passes by, harmless.
I admit that Congress isn't helpless, since the Atomic Energy Commission takes orders from it, but-would you like to try to give a congressional committee a course in the mechanics of infinitesimals?
I admit that Congress isn't helpless, since the Atomic Energy Commission takes orders from it, but - would you like to try to give a congressional committee a course in the mechanics of infinitesimals?
As he expected, he got a terrific burst of free flaming atomic energy.
You can laugh at their ignorance now- but they've had atomic energy for half a century-and you learned the control of space only a year ago.
Like fire, only worse, atomic energy was a good servant, but a very bad master.
And notions equally abstract, published by Einstein in 1905 and concerning the nature of space and time, led very directly to atomic energy and the atomic bomb.