> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://atomicinsider.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Nuclear fuel pellet vs gummy bear
- URL: https://atomicinsider.com/article/nuclear-fuel-pellet-vs-gummy-bear/
- Published: 2026-10-30T11:40:07.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-30T11:40:07.000Z
- Author: Oleg
- Tags: Nuclear 1:1, Issue 01

A uranium fuel pellet is a small ceramic cylinder, roughly half the height of a typical gummy bear. Made from uranium dioxide, these pellets are stacked inside metal tubes to form nuclear fuel rods, which are then grouped into assemblies and loaded into a reactor. Despite its modest size, a single pellet contains an extraordinary amount of energy: approximately as much as 1,000 litres of oil or one tonne of coal.

## Specification

|                   | **Typical uranium fuel pellet**                      |
| ----------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| Type              | Nuclear fuel pellet                                  |
| Material          | Uranium dioxide (UO₂)                                |
| Height            | \~11 mm                                              |
| Diameter          | \~10 mm                                              |
| Weight            | \~7 g                                                |
| Uranium content   | \~6 g                                                |
| Energy equivalent | \~1,000 litres of oil or \~1 tonne of coal           |
| Used in           | Commercial nuclear reactors, including PWRs and BWRs |