© ATOM 2015 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 ura- nium, 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. 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 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 ele- ment. We call this change decay. We say the uranium atom is decaying. RADIOACTIVE DECAY • In the early 20th Century a New Zealand born physi- cist 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 neu- trons 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. 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 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 depend- ing 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 knowl- edge 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 2015 © ATOM SCREEN EDUCATION 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.