Nuclear Power & Radiation

1. Nuclear Power & Radiation Unleash the power of the atom… carefully. 2

2. Today’s Warm-up • Nuclear Power/Reactions BrainPop • Radiation BrainPop • Marie Curie BrainPop

3. Today’s Objectives • Nuclear power/radiation BrainPop(s) • Nuclear reactions notes: fission, fusion • Three forms of radiation notes • Uses of nuclear reactions • Nuclear Power Homework Sheets

4. Nuclear Reactions Questions Vocabulary words Formulas Main Ideas Possible Test Questions Key Concepts Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Summary of the notes and information learned

5. Nuclear vs. Chemical Reactions

6. Remember our Alchemist buddies we discussed a few weeks ago? They were always trying to create gold… What would it take to actually do such a thing? Nuclear Reactions + = ?!?

7. Nuclear Reactions • There are two types of nuclear reactions: • Fission: Using a neutron “bullet” to break apart the nucleus of an atom (like uranium)

8. Fission Models • Here are a few models of nuclear fission using mousetraps and ping-pong balls! • http://www.ap.smu.ca/demos/content/modern/mousetrap_reactor/mousetrap_reactor.html

9. Fission Models

10. Nuclear Reactions • There are two types of nuclear reactions: • Fusion: Combining the nuclei of atoms to form different atoms (like the sun: H into He)

11. In the Nucleus • So what keeps the nucleus of an atom together in the first place? • Shouldn’t positive protons repel each other? • The answer is the strong nuclear force. • This is the attractive force between the subatomic parts of the nucleus

12. In the Nucleus • The strong nuclear force is only so strong though... • Any atom with more than 83 protons is too unstable, with too muchelectromagnetic forcepushing protons apart. • These elements areradioactive. • Radioactive elementsemit particles & energyas they decay.

13. In the Nucleus • There are three forms of radioactive decay: • Alpha decay: a particle withtwo protons and twoneutrons is released from anunstable nucleus.This particle is known as analpha particle.This is the least harmfulform of radiation.

14. In the Nucleus • There are three forms of radioactive decay: • Beta decay: when a neutronsplits into a proton and anelectron; the proton staysbehind while the electron isejected.The electron is known as abeta particle.This is a slightly harmfulform of radiation.

15. In the Nucleus • There are three forms of radioactive decay: • Gamma decay: involves therelease of high-energy,electromagnetic radiationfrom the nucleus.Gamma rays have a shorterwavelength than X-rays,& have much more energy.This is a very harmfulform of radiation.

16. Uses of Nuclear Reactions • Nuclear reactions (and radioactive materials) are used: • To create electricity • Power military submarines • In the field of medicine • CT scans • Tracer elements • Cancer treatment • Carbon-dating of fossils • Weapons/bombs

17. Uses of Nuclear Reactions • The downside of nuclear power includes: • Radioactive waste products • Danger of safety failures • Radioactive elements have a half-life. There is a certain length of time after which half of the radioactive element has decayed. This can take hundreds to thousands of years!!! • As radioactive materials decay the give off harmful radiation- alpha, beta, and gamma rays.

18. Uses of Nuclear Reactions • Radiation kills because the energy released can break chemical bonds and damage cells and DNA. • Exposure is particularly harmful if it is too intense or for too long a period of time.

19. Nuclear Reactions Questions Vocabulary words Formulas Main Ideas Possible Test Questions Key Concepts Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Notes Summary of the notes and information learned

20. Make it a great day Mustangs!