Radiation & Nuclear Energy - Internet Activity

· Radiation is the transfer of energy through waves (electromagnetic radiation) or fast traveling particles (particulate radiation). Natural background radiation exists all around us. How much do you already know? What do you wonder?

KNOW

Before you begin your research, write what you think you know about the topic.

WONDER

Before or during your research, record questions about the topic.

Vocabulary: As you do your research, define the following terms. If you miss any, use the Internet to find the definitions. Remember to keep it simple!

Word

Definition

Makes Me Think of...

(provide an illustration or analogy!)

Radiation

Electromagnetic radiation

Ions

Isotopes

Chain reaction

Geiger-Muller counter

So far in Science 10, we have only studied chemical reactions. Nuclear reactions are different then chemical reactions. Watch the following video and fill in the chart to understand some of the differences - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_wDl8MYhOc

Type of Reaction

Number of Atoms Involved?

Change in Energy?

New Elements Produced?

Types?

Can Be Sped Up?

Chemical

Nuclear

Isotopes are different forms of an element. Because they are the same element, their proton number does NOT change; only the amounts of neutrons vary. Only one or two of an element’s isotopes are stable. The rest are unstable so they can undergo radioactive decay where they emit something, so they change slightly to become more stable.

Watch this video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92yZY7dd-Jc&feature=emb_logo, which explains isotopes.

Isotope notation is a simple way of describing the isotope:

Read the lesson at https://socratic.org/chemistry/nuclear-chemistry/isotope-notation and then fill in the table below:

Isotope

Isotope Notation

Atomic #

Protons

Electrons

Neutrons

Example:

Nitrogen – 15

7

7

7

8

Oxygen-16

Bromine-80

Uranium-235

Copper-64

Ionizing Versus Non-Ionizing Radiation

Watch “Is Radiation Dangerous?”, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zI2vRwFKnHQ

Read the information given on the CDC website, https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/nonionizing_radiation.html, and fill in the blanks.

Radiation comes in two forms: _________________________and __________________________.

Ionizing radiation includes: (HINT: Look at the diagram given) _________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-ionizing radiation includes: (HINT: Look at the diagram given)

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Non-ionizing radiation has _____________________ frequencies and therefore, __________________ energy.

Unlike ionizing radiation, non-ionizing radiation does not have enough energy to remove _________________ from atoms and molecules. Non-ionizing radiation can _______________ substances. Exposure to intense, direct amounts of non-ionizing radiation may result in damage to tissue due to _____________. 

At the top of the webpage there is a link to the next webpage, https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/ionizing_radiation.html. Read the information given on this page and fill in the blanks.

Ionizing radiation is a form of energy that acts by removing _________________from atoms and molecules of materials that include air, water, and living tissue.

Ionizing activity can alter molecules within the ___________ of our body. That action may cause eventual harm (such as ____________). Intense exposures to ionizing radiation may produce ________________ or ________________ damage.

Other examples of ionizing radiation include ____________, ___________, and _______________ rays from radioactive decay.

Radioactive Decay - Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Rays

Watch the following video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeXpMijpazE, and fill in the table below.

Type of Radiation

What are they?

How far they penetrate?

What stops them?

How ionizing are they?

Alpha particles

Beta particles

Gamma rays

Now, you will learn how to write radioactive decay as a nuclear equation. Watch the following video, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaYoDxWxww8&feature=emb_logo, to learn how. In Science 10, we focus on the alpha, beta, and gamma decay. Fill in the examples below.

Alpha decay:

Beta decay:

Gamma decay:

*

Try the following: Identify each nuclear equation as alpha, beta, or gamma decay, and then, complete the nuclear equation.

Fission and Fusion

Read pp. 312-321 from the following online textbook, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bzN9RHGn8umBJ3ZgfEhpV0B0-UzuP2qW/view, and answer the questions below.

Nuclear Technologies

Nuclear energy can be a polarizing topic. Watch the following videos, fill in the table, and then, form an option on the positive and negative impacts of this energy’s technologies.

Industrial Uses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySnG4JZa7Go&feature=emb_logo

Medical Uses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzZezZ_5OJ8&feature=emb_logo

Industrial Uses

Medical Uses

Nuclear energy is terrible! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEYbgyL5n1g

Nuclear energy is awesome? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVbLlnmxIbY

Using supportive information from the videos you have watched, form and defend an opinion on whether nuclear energy is a positive or negative option.

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