NIE 2011 Investigative Case Based Learning Workshop, 1-4 August 2011

1. Myths and Facts about Nuclear Energy: Fukushima Level-7 Accident NIE 2011 Investigative Case Based Learning Workshop, 1-4 August 2011 Group 5; Physics AS Case Reference: Since the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident at Fukushima first began, we've heard a constant chorus of lies and misinformation from Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), Japanese government officials, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Obama Administration. First, we were assured that the radiation released by the Fukushima nuclear plant "is safe and poses no health risk". Then, the drum beat changed to, "there's no immediate danger" from the radiation, whatever that means, as cancer can take decades to develop. Soon, residents were ordered to evacuate their homes within 12 miles and stay indoors within 20 miles, as if wind born radiation can't infiltrate around doors and windows. Days later, President Obama cautioned U.S. citizens living within 50 miles of the nuclear plant to leave the area. Meanwhile, radiation released from Fukushima in early March was discovered days later in tap water 140 miles away in Tokyo and not long after, more than 8,500 miles away in Boston. Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-rosenthal/level-7-major-nuclear-acc_b_852666.html http://www.kidzworld.com/article/362-the-simpsons-tv-show-facts LEARNING OUTCOMES: 1. Fundamentals of Nuclear Fission reactions, fission products and radioactivity issues. 2. Basic units and terminologies related to nuclear energy and radiations. 3. Benefits and need for Mankind vs danger and disadvantages. 4. How does the nuclear reactor work? 5. Biological effects of radiation. 6. Natural background radiation and radiation from reactor (comparison). 7. Older generation of reactor: Reactor design issues and magnitude of tsunami. 8. Modern reactor designs v/s Fukushima Reactor. New safety measures. Execution SEQUENCE Introductory Lecture Investigations – with individual group discussions Collective discussion on the investigations performed; sharing of misconceptions encountered Lecture and discussion continued with use of web based resources Allocation of task for assessment of learning • INVESTIGATIONS: EXPERIMENTS/DEMOS • 1. NaI detector for gamma ray spectroscopy to show how radiation is detected and identified. • 2. Half-life of Ba137 using Geiger Muller Counter (along with simulation half lives). • 3. Neutron, SXR and HXR measurements on Plasma focus using Indium activation and radiation detector (demonstration only). • 4. Experimental demonstration of Radiation Shielding. • INVESTIGATIONS: SIMULATIONS/ANIMATIONS • 1. How a typical nuclear fission reactor works: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW9qB2dN_o8&feature=related • 2. Fukushima Nuclear Reactor Problem Explained (CNN): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdbitRlbLDc&feature=related • 3. Nuclear Fission Resources - http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/nuclear-fission • 4. Biological effects of ionizing radiations http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Fa_K9xkrE Additional REFERENCES: 1. Concepts of Modern Physics: Arthur Beiser, Fifth Edition, McGraw-Hill Inc., 2. Modern Physics: Frank J. Blatt, McGraw-Hill Inc., 3. Get Close to a Nuclear Fission; http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/phy03.sci.phys.energy.getclose/