A Study Guide by Cheryl Jakab

http://www.metromagazine.com.au

ISBN: 978-1-74295-598-8 http://www.theeducationshop.com.au Suitability: Highly recommended for science, arts and humanities Integrated study in Year 10

most Uranium has an atomic weight of 238. • We call it Uranium 238 and this U238 is the most commonly found Uranium on Earth. • In the world of atomic physics, these 238 protons and neutrons combine to make a huge nucleus. Running By contrast, the element Carbon usually has 12 time: protons and neutrons. This is why Uranium is often 3 x 51 mins described as a heavy element. approx • It’s this massive size of the nucleus at the centre of the Uranium atom that is the source of the strange energy first noticed by physicists at the turn of the 20th Century. We call it radiation. The great power that is • The central nucleus of the uranium atom struggles to hold itself together. We say it’s unstable. Uranium unleashed in ‘waking the spits out pieces of itself. Actual pieces, clumps of protons and neutrons and electrons and high energy dragon’ also involves great rays. This is radiation. risks. What are the costs and • When Uranium spits out this energy it changes it’s atomic weight. It goes from an atom with 238 the benefits of uranium? protons and neutrons at its centre, to an atom with a different number.

»»INTRODUCTION CONTENTS HYPERLINKS. CLICK ON ARROWS The year 2015 marks the seventieth anniversary of the most profound change in the history of human enterprise 3 The series at a glance on Earth: the unleashing of the elemental force within uranium, the explosion of an atomic bomb, the unleashing of 4 Overview of curriculum and education suitability the dragon. This highly engaging three part series presents the history and science of Uranium as a dominating factor 5 Detailed Synopsis in the 20th century. The series charts our still develop- ing relationship with uranium and radioactivity using the 6 Before viewing motif of the dragon. This epic journey with physicist and YouTube phenomenon Dr Derek Muller tells the story of the 6 Viewing questions and Discussion starters most wondrous and terrifying rock on Earth. 6 Responding to Episode 1 (1900 -1945) 7 Responding to Episode 2 (1945 - 1986) Teacher Background Science Information 8 Responding to Episode 3 (1986 - future)

[adapted from presskit info] 9 Activities 9 1. The science of Uranium 1900 -1945: THE URANIUM ATOM The rock that became a bomb 11 2. Uranium timeline: The rock that • All Uranium has a central core of 92 protons. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 changed our world (1945 - 2015) • In addition to these 92 protons, most Uranium has 146 12 3. Art in the Atomic age and into the future neutrons. That’s 92 protons and 146 neutrons bound tightly 13 4. Our Stories of the Atomic Age: Negotiated Project together like a string bag of oranges in the centre of the 15 Resources atom. This centre of the atom is called the nucleus. We add these 92 protons and 146 neutrons together to find what is called the ‘atomic weight’ or ‘mass’. So 17 Worksheets: 2 In short, uranium changes itself into a different element. We call this change decay. We say the uranium atom is decaying. RADIOACTIVE DECAY

• In the early 20th Century a New Zealand born physicist named Ernest Rutherford found that in decaying, Uranium undergoes a series of changes he called ‘Transmutation’. • Rutherford found that in spitting out radiation uranium transmutes or decays into different elements. Uranium is in a constant state of decay. • When uranium 238 spits out two protons and two neutrons it doesn’t have 238 anymore. It transmutes into an element with 234 protons and neutrons. We call it the element Thorium. Thorium decays too, it spits out a piece of itself, changes its atomic weight/ mass, and transmutes into the element Protactinium. Protactinium decays into another element and that decays into another, and so on. • Rutherford called these elements ‘daughters’. The »»THE SERIES AT A GLANCE daughter elements of uranium. • Uranium undergoes 14 generations of decay, 14 differ- URANIUM – Twisting the Dragon’s Tail is a stunning ent daughters until the whole process stops with the new documentary series exploring the incredible element lead. Lead doesn’t decay into anything. Lead story of uranium, from its creation in an exploding is the last stop in a process of uranium decay. star to its deployment in nuclear weapons, nuclear • The energy released from the decay of uranium into power and nuclear medicine. It’s a journey across different elements is radiation. nine countries and more than a century of stories, to • The astonishing thing is that uranium Credits discover the rock that made the modern world. It’s does this all by itself. You don’t have part science, part history and all epic adventure. Join Presenter: Derek to warm it or prod it or do anything Muller. Director: Wain physicist and YouTube phenomenon Dr Derek Muller to it. It’s an entirely natural process. Fimeri. Producer: Sonya as he reveals the untold story of the most wondrous Nuclear radiation is entirely natural. Pemberton. Executive and terrifying rock on Earth. producers: Sonya Pemberton; Michael Cordell Episode summaries

EPISODE 1 THE ROCK THAT BECAME A BOMB

At the turn of the 20th century uranium is virtually unknown and basically worthless. Dr Derek Muller shows how in just a single generation it became the most desirable and terrifying rock on earth.

EPISODE 2 THE ROCK THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

From the ashes of Hiroshima, Dr Derek Muller shows how uranium promised a brilliant new age, made the

modern world and threatened our very existence. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015

EPISODE 3 THE ROCK IN OUR FUTURE

Uranium was a promise of clean limitless power, but Dr Derek Muller shows us how it also became a nightmare of a silent and poisoned Earth. 3 »»OVERVIEW OF CURRICULUM environment and sustainability (ACOKFH024) Depth studies: World War II: An examination of significant AND EDUCATION SUITABILITY events of World War II, including the Holocaust and use of the atomic bomb (ACDSEH107) Classroom connections Historical Skills Chronology, terms and concepts: Use chronological Level: Year 10 Activities in this guide are sequencing to demonstrate the relationship between designed for specifically for Year 10. events and developments in different periods and places (ACHHS182) Also adaptable for Senior level: Perspectives and interpretations: Identify and analyse the Chemistry: Unit 1 Properties and structure of an atom perspectives of people from the past (ACHHS190) Physics: Unit 1 Ionizing radiation and nuclear reactions Identify and analyse different historical interpretations Modern History: Unit 2 Antinuclear movement (including their own) (ACHHS191) English: Unit 1 Explanation and communication: Develop texts, particularly descriptions and discussions that use evidence from a Summary curriculum focus: range of sources that are referenced (ACHHS192) Select and use a range of communication forms (oral, Major Learning areas: Science; History; Arts graphic, written) and digital technologies (ACHHS193) Cross curriculum priority: Sustainability General capability: Ethical understanding http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/ Reference: ACARA http://www.australian- humanities-and-social-sciences/history/ curriculum.edu.au/Curriculum/F-10 curriculum/f-10?layout=1#level10 Detailed Years 10 curriculum links Arts:

Media arts Science Knowledge and skills: Experiment with ideas and stories that manipulate media conventions and genres to Science Understanding construct new and alternative points of view through Biological sciences: The transmission of heritable charac- images, sounds and text (ACAMAM073) teristics from one generation to the next involves DNA and genes (ACSSU184) Cross curriculum priority: Sustainability Chemical sciences: The atomic structure and proper- Systems OI.3 Sustainable patterns of living rely on the in- ties of elements are used to organise them in the terdependence of healthy social, economic and ecologi- Periodic Table(ACSSU186) cal systems. Earth and space sciences: Global systems, includ- World Views: OI.4 World views that recognise the depending the carbon cycle, rely on interactions involv- ence of living things on healthy ecosystems, and value ing the biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and diversity and social justice are essential for achieving atmosphere(ACSSU189) sustainability. Physical sciences: Energy conservation in a system can Futures: OI.8 Designing action for sustainability requires an be explained by describing energy transfers and evaluation of past practices, the assessment of scien- transformations (ACSSU190) tific and technological developments, and balanced judgments based on projected future economic, social Science inquiry skills and environmental impacts. Processing and analysing data and information: Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw conclusions that are General capability: Ethical understanding consistent with evidence(ACSIS204) Understanding ethical concepts and issues: distinguish between the ethical and non-ethical dimensions of Science as a human endeavour complex issues Use and influence of science: People can use scientific Reasoning in decision making and actions: investigate rea- knowledge to evaluate whether they should accept sons for clashes of beliefs in issues of personal, social

claims, explanations or predictions (ACSHE194) and global importance SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 Exploring values, rights and responsibilities: use reasoning History skills to prioritise the relative merits of points of view about complex ethical dilemmas. Historical Knowledge and Understanding: Overview of the modern world and Australia: developments http://www.australiancurriculum.edu.au/general- in technology, public health, longevity and standard of capabilities/ethical-understanding/introduction/ living during the twentieth century, and concern for the ethical-understanding-across-the-curriculum 4 »»DETAILED SYNOPSIS from its birth, forged in an exploding star six billion years ago, through the ancient dreamtime stories of Australia’s [adapted from word file] indigenous people, and into the laboratories of the first nuclear physicists. The three one hours episodes of Uranium – twisting the dragon’s is presented as a history of our scientific and ethi- Derek takes us down medieval mines and across the cal understanding of the promise, possibilities and prob- arid beauty of a New Mexico desert where the power of lems of radioactivity since it’s discovery. uranium was unleashed in the first atomic bomb. Derek explores the birth of the Atomic Age and the dreamy Uranium – twisting the dragon’s tale is an Australian made promise of uranium’s clean limitless power. For a time, series, an epic journey through nine countries and over a uranium even becomes sexy. We learn how thousands of century of stories. Part science and part history, it’s an ad- lives are saved through its ability to diagnose and treat venture brought to life by an exciting new personality in tel- cancer. But the price of uranium is anxiety. New words evision science: Australian-born Canadian raised, Dr Derek enter the language, such as ‘fallout’ and ‘Mutually Assured Muller. Creator of the hit YouTube channel Veritasium, this Destruction’. Uranium becomes a nightmare. is his first appearance as host of an international television documentary series. Derek takes us through the scary silence of abandoned radioactive cities – places such as Chernobyl and In Uranium - twisting the dragon’s tail Derek unleashes a Fukushima, where uranium has poisoned the earth. He historian’s passion for detail, a physicist’s understanding helps us understand the nature of the extraordinary power of science, and a journalist’s nose for a good story. Derek in uranium, a power that can bring us energy without end, takes a fresh path through the story of uranium, the most or kill every one of us. Uranium changes everything. desired and the most hated rock on Earth. Destroyer and saviour, dream and nightmare: the extraordi- Across three fascinating episodes, Derek follows uranium nary paradox of uranium. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015

5 »»BEFORE VIEWING

The year 2015 marks the seventieth anniversary of what is described in The series Uranium: twisting the dragon’s tail as the most profound change in the history of human enterprise on Earth, describing this as “the unleashing of the elemental force within uranium, the explosion of an atomic bomb, the unleashing of the dragon.”

Establish prior knowledge and interest: Discuss with students their prior knowledge of uranium, radioactivity and nuclear energy using the following focus questions. Note that worksheet 1 is designed to engage students with their prior science, history and arts knowledge of the topic.

NB Background knowledge assumed: Everything is made of atoms is assumed and underpins knowledge for understanding uranium and radioactivity. The terms atom, neutron, proton and nucleus are added into worksheet 1 to help establish students prior knowledge. Fact files 2 and 4 Quiz could also be useful in establishing interests and prior knowledge. »»VIEWING QUESTIONS AND Focus attention on the topic and the DISCUSSION STARTERS series by asking students to discuss: The following is a list of possible discussion 1 What do you think of when you hear the word uranium? starters that teachers can consider using 2 What do you think uranium is? Where is uranium depending on their study focus in using the found? program. Also ask students to note, while 3 What is significant about it’s structure that allows watching, any information that is they find it to be radioactive? disturbing/new/interesting/wonder about 4 What do you know about and think about nuclear eg, environmental issues, ethical issues and power development? 5 What have you heard about the nuclear arms race? sustainability, while they are viewing the episodes. 6 Have you any opinions about nuclear power and it’s These starters link directly to the activities that uses? How important is it to you? follow in this study guide. 7 To what extent do you consider social and scientific environmental issues important to you? Episodes: The questions for each episode is divided into 8 How interesting or important do you think science three groups of about a third of the program each. The and scientific ideas are in our everyday life today ? questions are time stamped, which allows review of per- 9 Do you often watch and like watching documentary tinent sections. Teachers could use the episode summary films at home? What do you think would go into mak- and timestamps to direct students to particular concepts ing a documentary? and content. 10 What might you expect to see in a program called Uranium: twisting the dragon’s tail’? Responding to Episode 1 (1900 -1945)

Episode Title: The rock that became a bomb

Focus question: How did we wake the dragon? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015

At the turn of the 20th century uranium is virtually unknown, and basically worthless. Dr Derek Muller embarks on an adventure to reveal how, in just a single generation, uranium transforms into the most valuable and terrifying rock on Earth. The discoveries of scientists such as Marie Curie, Ernest Rutherford and Albert Einstein unlock the 6 secrets of the uranium atom, and allow us to peer into the very nature of the universe. Then one clear morning above the city of Hiroshima, uranium unleashes a terrifying power and changes the world forever. Section 1: Waking the dragon

1 What is the dragon that is described? (00:00 –01:43) 2 What is the long history of uranium on Earth?(04:47 - 06:10) 3 What was rock that contained uranium first mined for? (06:10 -09:10) 4 What is the strange unknown energy discovered by Henri Bacquerel? (09:10-10:05) Section 2: Uses

5 What did Marie Curie discover and how was it used early on? (10:06 - 17:26) 6 What is radiation therapy and how would you know if it dangerous? (17:26 - 20:33) 7 How the structure of matter and radioactivity are explained? (20.33 -23:49) Section 3: Matter turned to energy Responding to Episode 2 (1945 - 1986) 8 What are the change that occur spontaneously to uranium? (23:49 -27:36) Episode Title: The rock that changed the world 9 How are energy and matter related and might a chain Focus question: What happened when we woke the reaction occur by splitting the atom and how was it dragon? developed into a bomb using U235? (27:36 - 31:27) 10 In what way did the first bombs influence the future? In Northern Australia the indigenous people have ancient (31:27 -53:36) stories for the place where the uranium is found. They say a great creation spirit sleeps underground, and disturbing this spirit will unleash disaster. Episode 2 sees Dr Derek Muller on a remarkable journey to see how from the ashes of Hiroshima, uranium had promised a new age. The same power that destroyed the city will be harnessed to generate limitless energy and treat cancer. He uses the dragon motif of the series saying we have ‘tickled the nuclear dragon, woken the spirit beneath the Earth, and disaster was waiting’. Section 1: Hiroshima, Nuclear weapons and radiation effects (02:26–12.30)

11 What might it be like when a nuclear weapon (‘uranium bomb’) explodes? (02:26– 03:54) 12 What are the rays that come out of uranium? (04:23- 07:30) 13 What does radiation do to our bodies? (03:54-04:23; 07:30- 12.30) SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 Section 2: Uses of radiation energy (12:30 -24:07)

14 How is the image problem of uranium in the atomic age described? (12.30– 15:43 15 How can radium be used in the treat of cancers? (15:43-18.00) 7 16 How do nuclear power plants generate electricity? nightmare: the extraordinary paradox of uranium. (18:00– 24:07) Section 1: The scene of a Nuclear Accident Section 3: Promises and problems (26:07 - 1 What happened at Chernobyl? (03:00 -53:45) 17 What was the promise and the problem of plutonium ? 2 What are background radiation levels?(0 3:40 - 05:35) (26:07– 33.50) 3 What are the effects of high levels of radiation? 18 What happened at Maringa (28:30– :31:45) (08.51- 09:04) 19 How real is the fear of weapons and nuclear uranium 4 What is it like to go into a radiation zone? (7:00-16:25) and what are the responses have been seen? (eg 5 What do you understand as the meaning of half life? 31:45– 33.50) (16:25 -20:30;) 20 What developments have been spin offs from the nuclear age? (Space age Voyager; 51:44 Chernobyl Section 2: Medical uses, Fukushima accident) and health effects of radiation

Responding to Episode 3 (1986 - future) 6 What is ANSTO and what happens there? (20:30 -) 7 What diseases are caused by radiation? (24.19 -26.10) Episode Title: The rock in our future 8 What is the problem is linking disease to radiation Focus question: What will our future with the dragon be? exposure? (28:08 –29:00) 9 What are the safe levels of radiation and how do we

Uranium saves lives, treats cancer and brings hope to mil- know?(31:15 - 43: 21) SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 lions. Uranium was also a promise of clean limitless power. This episode is a remarkable and haunting journey, in Section 3: The paradox of Nuclear which Dr Derek Muller takes the viewer to visit Chernobyl power into the future and Fukushima, where uranium became a nightmare. In our energy-hungry, warming world, uranium is described 10 What are the measured risks of continuing to use nu- as being both a temptation with unbelievable power and a clear reaction? (43: 21–50:20) threat to all life on earth. Destroyer and saviour, dream and 8 TERM MAIN IDEAS

»»ACTIVITIES

1. The science of Uranium 1900 -1945: The rock that became a bomb

Curriculum focus: Science Worksheet 1 and Engagement task: for use prior to, during Fact file 1 and after watching episode 1. This worksheet is ideal for use as an opening to provide basic knowledge of the development of scientific understanding of structure and function of Uranium and radioactivity and explore student’s prior understandings and interests.

Focus question: What do you think of when you hear the words uranium and radioactivity?

THE TASK

1 As a class watch the first introductory segment of the SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 series (Episode 1 Timestamp 00:26-02:00) Conduct a short class discussion using prior to viewing list of questions to elicit student prior general knowledge of radioactivity and uranium. 2 Hand out worksheet 1 and Fact file: URANIUM and radioactivity 3 Ask students to complete the worksheet in pairs or 9 groups of 4 using their own background knowledge into the element Protactinium. Protactinium decays and Fact file informationSome possible answers into another element and that decays into another, provided in the table on this page. and so on. Rutherford called these elements 4 Ask students to add to their answers while watching ‘daughters’- daughter elements of uranium. Uranium episode 1. undergoes 14 generations of decay, 14 different 5 After watching the episode correct/add to their daughters until the whole process stops with the answers and questions based on information in the element lead. Lead doesn’t decay into anything. film and Fact file. Lead is the last stop in a process of uranium decay. Note for question 5 ‘Explain U235 in your own 9 List questions that students have about uranium and words’ review the excerpt quoted (Timestamp: 43:18 nuclear power and discuss what they might be most - 43:42) “Natural Uranium, mined from the ground interested in exploring and learning more about. is mostly U238, meaning the nuclei contain238 protons and neutrons. Fewer than one in a hundred is this nucleus U235. It has three fewer neutrons and it is the nucleus that can split and trigger other U235 nuclei to split. So what the scientists at the Manhattan Project need to do is gather up enough of this U235 to create ‘critical mass’: an amount that can sustain a runaway chain reaction. The problem is, U235 is almost identical to U238, so scientists exploit the tiny difference in weight. U235 is ever so slightly lighter in order to create ‘enriched’ Uranium; that is Uranium with a much higher concentration of U235.” 6 Discuss units of measurement of radiation on Geiger counters and the three particles alpha, beta and

gamma radiation. AW 8: alpha beta gamma radiation. SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 See table this page. 7 Class Discussion: Share definitions and questions raised about the science of atoms, elements, isotopes, uranium and it’s radioactivity and decay. 8 Extension activity: Daughters of Uranium: Uranium decays into the element Thorium. Thorium decays changing its atomic weight/mass, and ‘transmutes’ 10 developments since 1945 2. Uranium timeline: The rock that changed • explore some interpretations and perspectives of peo- our world (1945 - 2015) ple during those events • increase understanding of changing views about nu- Curriculum focus: History AW 9 search Worksheet clear weapons and energy for uranium 2 and Fact file 2 What to do: Cross curriculum priority: Sustainability, Ethics 1 As a class: Review student understanding the development of scientific understandings of uranium and Exploratory and explanatory task: for use prior to, radioactivity from 1900 - 1945 using the Timeline of during and after watching episode 2. This worksheet developments in Fact file 2. is ideal for use to establish chronology of the historical 2 Discuss the worksheet activity task: adding to the time- developments of the ‘atomic age’ and explore student’s line from 1945 onwards. Discuss the focus question, understandings the perspectives of people of the time listing main events that students recall. (1945-1986). What do you imagine it would have be like to live at that time? Review ep 2 segment where the presenter Focus question: What has happened in the seventy Derek Muller discusses the idea of what it was like to years since the use of nuclear weapons at the end of live under the threat of nuclear war (Ep 2 :31:40 - 32:46) SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 WW2? 3 When timelines are complete share students own ex- pressed ideas of major events. THE TASK 4 What has happened since the first nuclear power plant accident in 1986? This worksheet provides opportunity for students to: Extension activity: Create a class display of a seventy • plot a chronology of major historical events in nuclear year chronology 1945 -2015 . 11 3. Art in the Atomic age and Worksheet into the future 3 and Fact file 3 Curriculum focus: Arts and integrating Science; History:

Cross curriculum priority: Sustainability, Futures:

Time allocation: This will depend on many factors. Define a timeline with the class prior to the activity. This could be conducted in conjunction with an English or Media subject.

Focus question: How does art help us understand and relate to life in the new atomic age?

THE TASK

Plan and prepare to display or present an artwork (using about or related to people and the ‘woken dragon’. You might choose to consider one or more of art forms

• visual - painting • dance - • media eg animation, • music - write a song

What to do:

Working as a class:

1 Prior to handing out the activity worksheet. Discuss: How do people use art to express their inner feelings about events and issues? With the limitless power of ‘the most dangerous reaction’ people have come to live with an uncertain future in the Atomic age. What have artists had to say about this? 2 Watch one or more sections of the Uranium: twisting the dragon’s tail series that highlight the art people (See Fact file 3 for examples and Timestamps) 3 Discuss ideas and make a list of artworks used in the series and the ways in which they express feelings about the ‘atomic age’. What do you think of these artworks? 4 How do the references to artworks help the narrative constructed in the Uranium: Twisting the dragon’s tail series? How does it differ from other documentaries you have seen? How important is the story telling to the success of the film? 5 Working individually or in groups up to four:

eg Write a script for the sketch, song, play, cartoon, SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 monologue, dialogue or interview. Write a short sketch to perform and record which highlights some aspect of the issues related to use of nuclear energy. NB Encourage students to re-watch sections of the series as th formulate ideas, 6 Organise ways of having individuals and groups share their products. 12 Worksheet 4, Fact file 4, and 4. Our Stories of the Atomic Fact file 5 Age: Negotiated Project

Curriculum focus: Science; History; Arts:

Cross curriculum priority: Ethical issues FACT FILE 4 QUIZ ANSWERS Q.1. Uranium is named af- opening them again. Culminating & evaluation activity: This activity would ter the planet Uranus TRUE best be completed after the previous activities focussing It was named shortly after Q.7. Nuclear waste is only on the science, history and art of the atomic age relating to the discovery of Uranus a problem for about 1000 Uranium, radioactivity, nuclear energy (Activities 1-3). years. FALSE - see informa- Q.2. There is no such tion sheet Time allocation: To be negotiated prior to commence- thing as natural radiation. ment of projects FALSE See background Q.8. Many nuclear waste radiation levels storage facilities are now Purpose: Share understanding, opinions and values being built around the towards of an aspect of science and/or history about Q.3. Humans have used globe. FALSE- just one in Uranium and radioactivity uranium as a yellow Finland coloring agent for ceramic Focus question: What aspect of development and/or uses glazes for thousands of 9. Nuclear weapons have of uranium are you most interested in exploring further? years. TRUE - though not never been used in war. dangerous in low amounts FALSE, Two dropped on THE TASK Japan in 1945. Q.4. The symbol Develop a project to explore and communicate with others for ban the bomb is Q.10. Australia has one ideas of ethical and sustainability issues related to uranium FALSE This is the radiation nuclear reactor. TRUE at and the atomic age with attention to the details of the sci- symbol Lucas Heights in Sydney ence, history, art and/or communication: that makes radioactive Q.5. Exposure to radia- substances for use in What to do: tion can be good for your medicine and technologi- health TRUE (depending cal applications. Working a class: on the level and how it is applied eg medical treat- Q.11. New methods of 1. Use Fact file4 Quiz to review student ideas prior to ment of cancers, natural nuclear power generation handing out the project task. Have students record their radiation. are safe and reliable. Can own ideas individually under each question before they be DEBATED. discuss with a partner and then as a class. How much Q.6. Most nuclear reac- SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 do you now know about uranium and it’s uses? What do tors are now shut down Q.12. Deposits of uranium you know about people who discovered uranium? Give after the tsunami in Japan that will last as fuel for students in pairs ten minutes to answer and then review damaged the Fukushima many thousands of years. answers and what they recorded thinking and wondering power plant. FALSE. Japan FALSE. A non-renewable about the statement. See Factual answers this page. shut down it;s reactors limited resource. after the accident but 2. Discuss sustainability as a concept and an ethical issue. 13 Refer to Systems, Worldviews and Futures as described in 5. What have you found most interesting in the Uranium: National Curriculum Ref: < http://www.australiancurricu- twisting the dragon’s tail series? What makes a story in- lum.edu.au/CrossCurriculumPriorities/Sustainability>9(see teresting? How is the narrative constructed in the Uranium p. xx in this guide.) series? How are the science and the history brought together? How important is the dragon motif in the story What be involved in each of the possible project topics to telling? What do you think of the presenter: create a focus on the sustainability issues? The series Uranium: twisting the dragon’s tail is pre- 3. Hand out Worksheet 4 with a list of possible projects. sented by physicist Dr Derek Muller. Have you seen any Have students discuss what is involved to select one of the of his work? Watch a video presented by Derek Muller eg offered project topics to carry out individually or in pairs. YouTube eg Can you solve this? (https://www.youtube. NB students who have selected the same project topic com/watch?v=vKA4w2O61Xo) or Radiation explanation meet together in support groups on a regular basis. Add (http://www.ansto.gov.au/Resources/DiscoveryCentre/ additional topics if desired. EducationResources/EducationVideos/index.htm). What do you think of the style of presenter Muller? 4. Discuss each of the options described in Worksheet 4 and add others or negotiate details depending on inter- 6. Working in groups: Students decide on a project task est. Examples of what might be suitable are listed for each to complete from those listed (or other as negotiated).Ask option below: students to design an assessment rubric for that topic, including time allocation, how the project results will be I Design and make a video or Podcast about the nuclear recorded and communicated and suggest mark allocation arms race or Ban the Bomb campaigns. eg You might for aspects of the task. (Teacher Ref http://ww2.kqed.org/ choose to role play a Ban the bomb activist being inter- mindshift/category/teaching-strategies/.) viewed for a film or news report at a demonstration II Plan a tour of five of the major sites of significance in 7. Individually or in groups: Students complete the project. the history of uranium use through the 20th century. eg Refer students to the references listed and other sources Hiroshima, Titan 2,Chernobyl, Kakadu for their particular projects. III Create a storyboard, poster or PowerPoint presentation on the science about radioactivity or nuclear power gen- 8. Sharing projects: Create opportunity for each project eration explaining how it works eg talking to a younger to be displayed, performed or shown to an audience as person or friend about your views on nuclear power appropriate to the task chosen and negotiated. Discuss IV Create a short comic strip or graphic story reporting on the importance of how scientific and historical accuracy in the history and development of Atomic age art in the specific projects.. 20th century eg review monster movies V Create a report on one or more of the scientific and/or Extension activity SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 medical uses of nuclear energy and/or radioactivity for a chosen medium eg newspaper, film, Podcast or What position do you take on nuclear power? Write an VI Create, perform and record a short stage play of opinion piece to a paper or other media outlet entitled: people involved in the discovery or use of uranium and “Where I stand” discussing the conflicting interests and radioactivity eg M. Curie or E. Rutherford sharing their values central to the issue. What do you now think about research project involved in discovery of uranium’s the use of uranium for power generation? What might influ- characteristics and radioactivity ences our decisions in ethical, value and moral questions. 14 »»RESOURCES

Online Resources for students and teachers

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency http://www.arpansa.gov.au/ The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation http://www.ansto.gov.au/ World Health Organisation - Accidents, Radiation http://www.who.int/topics/accidents_radiation/en/ The Chernobyl accident - UNSCEAR’s assessments of the radiation effects investing more into better technologies we might be http://www.unscear.org/unscear/en/chernobyl.html able to make nuclear energy finally save and clean for- Chernobyl Tissue Bank ever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVbLlnmxIbY http://www.chernobyltissuebank.com/intro.html Veratasium Fukushima Medical University 5 Fun Physics Phenomena Five cool physics tricks, but Radiation Medical Science Center for the Fukushima how do they work? Published on Aug 5, 2014 Health Management Survey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Xp_imnO6WE http://www.fmu.ac.jp/radiationhealth/ Brian Cox powerphyzix’s channel The World Nuclear Association Information Library A Crash Course In Particle Physics (1 of 2) Uploaded http://www.world-nuclear.org/Information-Library/ on Jan 1, 2012 A is for Atom Educational film made in 1952 (approx Professor Brian Cox of the University of Manchester 15minutes) presents an educational walk, through the fundamen- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi-ItrJISQE tals of Particle Physics. Periodic table of elements Videos Uranium https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVxBdMxgVX0 See some real life uranium in this new video about Bionerd23 element number 92 - the so-called “bogeyman of the The highly radioactive kindergarten laboratory of periodic table”. Videos like this about all the elements Pripyat at http://www.periodicvideos.com/ no dolls and toys to find here - the shelves are stacked https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8vVZTvJNGk with highly contaminated radioactive samples from the Nuclear Lab (RADIOACTIVE) - thinking about red forest and other parts of the exclusion zone. safety and waste https://www.youtube.com/ not as famous as the Kopachi (копачи) kindergarten - but watch?v=NrIzWWmlboE this is one of the infamous temporary dosimetry labora- Radon - heaviest noble gas, including explanation of half life tories set up after the Chernobyl accident. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTuC_LrEfbU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krS4q1bCmH4 Radium - discovered by M Curie, safety and uses https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_I6vj-lXNM Nuclear waste resources Thorium - use https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ64Jm3dmSs http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/ Kurz Gesagt - In a Nutshell nuclear/waste/ Nuclear Energy Explained: How does it work? 1/3 http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2011/ph241/madres1/ Published on Mar 26, 2015 http://www.psr.org/resources/nuclear-power-factsheet.html Nuclear Energy is a controversial subject. The pro- and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/23/us-nuclear- anti-nuclear lobbies fight furiously, and it’s difficult htt- waste-radioactive-storage_n_839438.html ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcOFV4y5z8c http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/nuclear-fuel-cycle/ 3 Reasons Why Nuclear Energy Is Terrible! 2/3 nuclear-wastes/waste-management-overview/ Published on Apr 1, 2015 Nuclear energy might be a http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/ failed experiment. In over sixty years the technology te_1591_web.pdf has not only failed to keep its promise of cheap, clean http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ and safe energy, it also caused major catastrophes and Onkalo_spent_nuclear_fuel_repository enabled more nuclear weapons while the nuclear waste http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/apr/24/ SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 problem is still not solved. https://www.youtube.com/ nuclear-waste-storage watch?v=HEYbgyL5n1g 3 Reasons Why Nuclear Energy Is Awesome! 3/3 Published on Apr 1, 2015 Nuclear energy might have »»WORKSHEETS a lot of unused potential. Not only is it one of the best mid term solutions for global warming bit despite what Jump to Worksheets: gut feeling tells us, it has saved millions of lives. By 15 This study guide was produced by ATOM. (© ATOM 2015) ISBN: 978-1-74295-598-8 [email protected]

For information on SCREEN EDUCATION magazine, or to download other SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 study guides for assessment, visit . Join ATOM’s email broadcast list for invitations to free screenings, conferences, seminars, etc. Sign up now at . For hundreds of articles on Film as Text, Screen Literacy, Multiliteracy and Media Studies, visit . 16 NAME(S):

» WORKSHEET 1

THE SCIENCE OF URANIUM 1900 -1945: THE ROCK THAT BECAME A BOMB

“ So what the scientists at the Manhattan Project need to do is gather up enough of this U235 ...that can sustain a runaway chain reaction. “ (Derek Muller, Episode 1 Timestamp: 43:18 - 43:42)

Focus question: What do you know and think about uranium and radioactivity?

1. Working in pairs: Complete the table below.

TERM WHAT YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD ...? WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT .... ? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015

17 NAME(S):

FACT FILE 1: URANIUM AND RADIOACTIVITY

URANIUM WAS ...

• formed in the collapse of dying stars or Supernovas, massive clouds of dust and gas that cool and form bodies such as solar systems, including our solar system • used as an additive to glass to make glass sparkle and in ceramic glazes to produce vivid bright yellow colour well into the 20th. • first described and named after the planet Uranus, in 1789,by Martin Klaproth, a German chemist, who found it in a mineral called pitchblende in waste rock or tailings from silver mines in what is now the Czech republic. 2. Add at least one more terms to the above list and complete the details in columns 2 and 3 of the table. URANIUM IS ...

3. Working as a class: Check answers using Uranium: The • completely natural element. rock that became a bomb and other references and then • common in tiny quantities on Earth, four to six parts pool ideas to create a class glossary of terms and useful per million all over the Earth, even in seawater. websites and resources for exploring the science of uranium • more common than mercury or silver, and about as and radioactivity. common as tin. 5. Explain U235 in your own words, using the following and • found only very rarely in large concentrations in your glossary of terms to help: nature. • naturally radioactive. “Natural Uranium, mined from the ground is mostly U238, meaning the nuclei contain238 protons and neutrons. Fewer • readily split in the U235 form than one in a hundred is this nucleus U235. It has three • used in creating atomic weapons fewer neutrons and it is the nucleus that can split and trigger other U235 nuclei to split. So what the scientists at the RADIOACTIVITY WAS ... Manhattan Project need to do is gather up enough of this U235 to create ‘critical mass’: an amount that can sustain • discovered by Parisian physicist Henri Becquerel just a runaway chain reaction. The problem is, U235 is almost before the 20thC identical to U238, so scientists exploit the tiny difference • explored by Marie Curie, who named the energy in weight. U235 is ever so slightly lighter in order to create ‘Radio Activity’. ‘enriched’ Uranium; that is Uranium with a much higher con- found by Rutherford to be associated with transmu- centration of U235.” (Timestamp: 43:18 - 43:42) • tation or decay of uranium into different elements. important in Rutherford's development of under- Extension activity: When uranium decays it • standing the structure of the atom produces radioactivity and forms what are known th as ‘daughter elements’. What are the ‘Daughters of • About the middle of the 20 century a German physicist Otto Hahn split an atom of U235. This is the only uranium’ ? Create a diagram to explain. form of uranium that will readily split.

RADIOACTIVITY IS...

• a natural process and Uranium is in a constant state of decay. • measured in units called Seiverts on a Geiger counter SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 • energy that can penetrate materials released • Leo Szilard realised that when the uranium atom fis- sioned it not only split in two, but it released two or three stray neutrons like bits of flying debris.

See also: http://www.ansto.gov.au/NuclearFacts/ GlossaryOfNuclearTerms/index.htm 18 NAME(S):

1945 Hiroshima: 1961 Titan: William BURCHETT, Titan Missile Australian journalist: Museum Titan “I write this as a 2, (1963 -1982) warning to the World. In the largest and Need an Hiroshima, people are most powerful still dying, mysteriously missile and horribly from an weapons image for unknown something, system ever which I can only describe deployed, by Hiroshima as the ‘atomic plague’. the United “ (03:54 - 04:13) States.(:41:03)

1952 Maralinga: 1986 Chernobyl: Maralinga British testing April 26th 1986, on Australian soil (1952 Chernobyl -1960’s 28:30 -28:51) Nuclear Reactor, the first catastrophic nuclear accident.

»WORKSHEET 2 » 1945 URANIUM TIMELINE: THE ROCK THAT CHANGED OUR WORLD (1945 - 2015) 1950

Since the end of second world war the possibilities for 1955 nuclear energy developed further, in nuclear weapons and for power and medicine. What have we done and what will 1960 we do with the elemental force within uranium?

“In 1945 the Allies are at war with Japan. The Americans 1965 drop a Uranium bomb on the city of Hiroshima – it explodes like the fiery breath of a dragon.” (02:26-02:44) 1970 “Uranium is a dream of clean limitless power... Or a nightmare of a silent and poisoned Earth.” 1975 Derek Muller, Uranium: Ep 2 (01:05) 1980 “By the early 1960’s radioactive material from nuclear bomb tests is found all over the world in the soil, in the water, even the polar ice caps. So you don’t need to be a 1985 Japanese fisherman sailing into a bomb test to be exposed to the stuff. It’s everywhere. You know, if you were to dig 1990 up anyone who died before July 1945, the date of the first bomb test, like President Roosevelt or Shakespeare, 1995 or Cleopatra, there would be one important difference between their bones and yours. Theirs would not contain 2000 fallout from nuclear weapons. Whereas yours and mine do.” SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 (Derek Muller, Uranium: Ep 2 37:34 - 38:18) 2005 Focus question: What are the major events in the seventy years since the use of nuclear weapons at the end of 2010 WW2?

Your task: Create a timeline of events of nuclear energy 2015 use and development from 1945 -2015.

19 NAME(S):

FACT FILE 2: MAJOR EVENTS 1900 -1945

1900 Frederick Soddy ob- 1938 Otto Hahn’s ex- serves disintegration perimental results in- of radioactive ele- terpreted as nuclear ments into isotopes. fission.

1902 Rutherford and 1939 Szilard, Wigner, and Soddy theory of Teller get a letter radioactive decay from Einstein to published. president Roosevelt on the possibility of 1903 Becquerel and Pierre a uranium weapon. and Marie Curie share Nobel Prize 1940 neutrons captured for discovery of by uranium 238 radioactivity. creating elements 93 (neptunium) and 94 1904 Rutherford discov- (plutonium). ers that alpha rays are heavy positively 1941 President Roosevelt charged particles. authorizes the Manhattan Project; 1905 Albert Einstein pub- Enrico Fermi pro- lishes the special Extension activity: Create a whole class duces the world’s theory of relativity first controlled and display board showing a full seventy year (E=mc2). chronology of atomic age events 1900 -2015. sustained nuclear fission reaction. 1911 Ernest Rutherford discovers the nu- 1943 Oppenheimer moves cleus of the atom; the bomb develop- Marie Curie receives ment to a secret a second Nobel laboratory located Prize for the isola- at Los Alamos, New tion of radium and Mexico. polonium. 1944 August 26: Bohr 1913 Niels Bohr’s atomic presents memoran- structure combining dum on control of nuclear and quan- nuclear weapons to tum theories. Roosevelt.

1919 Rutherford shows 1945 July 16: world’s first first nuclear reaction atomic bomb explo- transmuting nitrogen sion, in New Mexico. into oxygen by bom- barding with alpha August 6: The ura- particles. nium bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan 1932 Chadwick discovers killing an estimated the neutron. 80,000 - 140,000 people. 1933 Leo Szilard pro- poses the idea of August 9: A pluto- a chain reaction in nium bomb dropped theory if an element on Nagasaki, Japan could be found that killing approx 74,000 SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 would emit two people neutrons after one neutron taken in.

1934 Enrico Fermi achieves the world’s first nuclear fission.

20 NAME(S):

»»WORKSHEET 3 ART IN THE ATOMIC AGE AND INTO THE FUTURE a chosen audience. Time allocation: To be negotiated before commencing the The ‘waking the dragon’ motif that relates to the uncertain artwork future. The ticking the dragon’s tail of the title is attributed to the physicist and great science communicator Richard What to do: Working as a class: Feynman, who was involved in the development of the atomic bomb: 1. Discuss the dragon motif. The series Uranium: Twisting the dragon’s tail uses the dragon as a motif throughout. Re- “A number of ingenious experiments were devised to test watch sections that include the motif eg the speed of the fission reaction, and the limit was pushed. But even so, I thought it would be very nice to go one step “Myth has it that, a great power sleeps beneath this land, nearer to a real atomic explosion. [Richard] Feynman, who and must never be disturbed, in the age of uranium, we was present, started to chuckle and to say that this is just learned to live uneasily, with the dragon”. like tickling the tail of a sleeping dragon.” (Professor Otto R (Derek Muller, Ep 2 Timestamp 50:54 - 51:54) Frisch, January 1969) What do you think of the dragon motif to represent the ‘se- According to the series producer Sonya Pemberton: cret powers of uranium’? “... One of the key elements of [the] original proposal was the In what ways do you think using this motif for the unlocking dragon motif. It was brave, and unlike traditional science and the secrets of uranium works? Does this ‘like tickling the tail history documentaries. There were some who questioned of a sleeping dragon’ help you to relate to the issues? this approach, thinking it too whimsical or, as Wain [the writer] likes to say, a bit ‘fruity’. For me it was vital..... How well does the dragon motif work for you? SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015

The finished films are, I believe, things of beauty” 2. How is living under a nuclear threat described in the series? eg Focus question: How does art help us understand and relate to life in the new atomic age? “Once people recognised that they could be …were under threat, this became a pervasive feeling throughout Western Your task: Plan and prepare an artwork (using dance, civilisation”. drama, media, music and/or visual) about or related to people and the ‘woken dragon’ to display, perform or present to (Dr Spencer Weart Physicist and Historian Timestamp:25:20 21 NAME(S):

FACT FILE 3: ATOMIC ART

CARTOON ANIMATION

1945 Animation of Kenji Nakazawa as a boy witnessing the Hiroshima bombing (Ep 1 Timestamp 12.00-15:30)

Animation “1945-1998” Isao Hashimoto Testing the bomb (Time stamp: 36:50- 37:34)

SONGS

‘We Will All Go Together When We Go’ Tom Lehrer, 1959. (Time stamp: 39:00 - 39:13:21) 25:31) Atomic Cocktail” by Slim Gaillard. What do the various artworks help you to understand? (Time stamp: 20:14:21 10:20:21:05)

3. Review and discuss artworks used in Uranium: Twisting the dragon’s tail -the films, songs, symbols, cartoons MOVIES that emerged as the atomic age dawned and progressed Monster From The Ocean Floor’, 1954 ; (see below). The Giant Claw’, 1957, How do you think did these artists might have influenced the ‘It Came From Beneath The Sea’, 1955 societies of their time/s? “These movies are Hollywood fiction; the real story is far 4. Working individually or in groups: Design and make an more terrifying.” artwork related to impacts of uranium and radioactivity on society, such as uses, dangers and impacts. Consider in your planning: BAN THE BOMB SYMBOL

• What meaning do you intend in your artwork? Time stamp: 46:11 to 46:58 Uranium launched the age of anxiety and now it launches the age of protest. A • What do you want the audience to understand from this worldwide campaign to “Ban the Bomb”. artwork?

• What is the cultural context of your artwork and your audience?

• What key beliefs and values do you want to reflect in SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 your artwork?

5. Plan and agree on how to share your artwork with the class or other audiences.

Consider: How do audiences perceive and understand artworks? What does the advancement of technology mean to the presentation of, and audience engagement with, different artworks? 22 NAME(S):

IV. Create a short comic strip or graphic story reporting on the history and development of Atomic age art in the 20th century

V. Create a report on one or more of the scientific and/or medical uses of nuclear energy and/or radioactivity for a chosen medium

VI. Create, perform and record a short stage play of people involved in the discovery or use of uranium and radioactivity

Working in groups (4-6):

1. Choose a project from those listed or suggest one of your own design. Write a plan of what you need to do, to research, perform and/or record your project. How will you highlight the main features in the story?

HINTS: You might want to re-watch sections of the Uranium series that show the importance of developments relevant to your chosen project. There are many YouTuve videos that may be useful .

2. Assign roles to each group member in the project eg creating a script for a sketch, or interview. NB Think about dress-up and use props to perform interviews, skits or cha- rades about aspects of the story. »»WORKSHEET 4 OUR STORIES OF THE ATOMIC AGE: NEGOTIATED PROJECT

Focus question: What aspect of development and/or uses of uranium are you most interested in exploring further?

Your task: Develop a project to explore and communicate with others ideas of ethical and sustainability issues related to uranium and the atomic age with attention to the details of the science, history, art and/or communication. Consider how you might approach these project ideas.

Time allocation: to be negotiated

Project Ideas: I. Design and make a video or Podcast about the nuclear arms race or Ban the Bomb campaigns. or SCREEN EDUCATION © ATOM 2015 II. Plan a tour of five of the major sites of significance in the history of uranium use through the 20th century. or

III. Create a storyboard, poster or PowerPoint presentation on the science about radioactivity or nuclear power generation explaining how it works

23 NAME(S):

FACT FILE 4: QUIZ What do you now know, think and wonder about uranium and it’s uses?

Circle whether you agree or disagree with the statement and then record below something you 7. Nuclear waste is only a problem for about 1000 years. think or wonder about the ideas in the statement. Agree Disagree. I think/wonder ...

1. Uranium is named after the planet Uranus