Science Standard III, Chemistry
Lesson 312, Atomic Energy
Understanding what nuclear fission is
Knowing what an isotope is
Knowing the common isotopes of uranium
Knowing what mass numbers are
Understanding radioactive decay
Knowing what radiation is
Understanding half-life
Understanding chain reaction
Understanding that the first atom bombs worked using nuclear fission
Knowing that in 1945 the United States dropped devastating atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which killed hundreds of thousands of people
Knowing that nuclear fission of uranium atoms can also be used to make electricity
Knowing that uranium is formed into long rods known as fuel rods
Knowing what a nuclear power plant’s core is
Understanding that if the core gets too hot, a meltdown could occur
Knowing what coolants, control rods, cadmium, and boron are and how they are used in nuclear power plants
Understanding what a turbine is and how it produces electricity
Understanding that there are positive and negative side effects of nuclear power
Understanding what nuclear waste is
Understanding what nuclear fusion is
Knowing what deuterium and tritium are
Knowing that fusion is used to make a hydrogen bomb
Understanding what cold fusion is
Understanding the dangers of exposure to various forms of energy