Nuclear decay and nuclear energy – WJECContainment
Nuclear fission is the splitting of a radioactive nucleus to release energy. High-energy collisions between light nuclei can result in fusion, which releases energy.
The nuclear reactor is housed within a steel pressure container inside another containment building, which is usually made out of concrete. The containment building surrounds the nuclear reactor. Nearly all nuclear power plants have a containment building.
The containment building is designed:
to ensure that radioactive material is confined under all conditions
to ensure that the power plant is protected against all events
to provide radiation shielding under all conditions