How does nuclear energy work?

Basically, this is how a normal fission reactor operates.

The moderator, control rods, and fuel rods are located in the reactor core.

A chain reaction is initiated when a neutron collides with the fuel's nucleus, which makes the nucleus unstable and begins to decay. Three additional neutrons and some energy are released, and these neutrons cause further decay from other nuclei. The fuel rods are typically isotopes of uranium or plutonium.

Water outside the reactor core boils due to the energy generated, and the steam from this process turns a turbine, which uses electromagnetic induction to generate energy.

The moderator and control rods are used to regulate the reaction's rate.

Typically composed of boron, the control rods are raised or lowered from the reactor core to absorb neutrons and prevent chain reactions; the lower the rods are positioned within the core, the slower the reaction will be; fully lowering the rods will stop the reaction.

After about 50 collisions, the neutrons will be at an appropriate energy to collide with a nucleus and cause fission, rather than being deflected. The moderator, which is typically water, is used to get the neutrons to reach their "thermal energy".

Nuclear energy is produced through nuclear fission, where the nucleus of an atom is split into two smaller nuclei, releasing a large amount of energy in the form of heat. This heat is used to generate steam, which then drives turbines connected to generators, producing electricity.