In dividing the atom the man releases forces of great magnitude. These are forces that bind the central core of the atom. This central core – the nucleus – is extremely small in diameter.

The nucleus of the atom is of a highly complex structure. It is the three main components of the atom that we shall deal with below. These are called protons, neutrons and electrons.

The proton carries a positive charge of electricity, the number of protons in the nucleus determining the element that the atom forms.

For example, if the nucleus has a single proton, then it will form the gas hydrogen, if 92 protons are present, the element will be uranium and so on. In short, if the number of protons in the nucleus is known, the element can be found out at once.

As mentioned above, the proton carries a charge of positive electricity. We know the bodies charged with the same kind of electricity to repel one another. When two protons are brought close together they repel one another with a great force.

The second of these basic components of the nucleus is the neutron. The neutron does not carry a definite electric charge. The sub-particles that form the neutron do carry charges but the charge of one balances that of another leaving the neutron neutral. It is from this state that it gets its name.

The third component of the atom is the electron. The electrons revolve around the nucleus. Each electron carries a negative charge of electricity that is equal to the positive charge of a proton in the nucleus.

As the charge of the electron is negative and that of the proton positive, it might be thought that the proton would attract the lighter electron and draw it into the nucleus. This would happen if the electron were not revolving around the nucleus.

The speed of the electron establishes sufficient centrifugal force so that it counteracts the neutral attraction. Thus the higher the speed of the revolving electron, i. e. the greater its energy, the farther from the nucleus it will revolve.

Text 2. Peaceful uses of atomic energy

The splitting of the atom can either destroy all the achieve­ments of mankind all over the world or it can serve economic and cultural development of the peoples. Russia and other countries want the atomic energy to serve the peoples living on our planet.

There are three possible ways of using atomic fission, the most outstanding discovery of physics. These are: the use of radioactive isotopes, which are formed in nuclear processes, the use of powerful radioactive radiation, mainly in certain processes in organic chemistry, and the use of the energy released during the fission of uranium and plutonium nuclei.

All these three ways are being successfully developed in Russia.

The first in the world industrial atomic power plant with a 5,000 kW capacity was put into operation in the Soviet Union in 1954. This power generating installation based on the uranium graphite reactor was the creation of Kurchatov, an outstanding Soviet physicist.

Ten years later two more atomic power plants began gener­ating electricity, namely: the Beloyarskaya named after Kurchatov and the Novovoronezhskaya.

At the Beloyarskaya atomic power plant Soviet scientists have for the first time in the world achieved nuclear super­heating of steam directly in the reactor before feeding it into the turbine. This is a fresh contribution to nuclear engineering.

The projected capacity of the first section of the Novovoronezhskaya atomic power plant is 210,000 kW. The second sec­tion is known to have a capacity of 365,000 kW, This power plant has been linked to the single power grid of the European. part of the Soviet Union.