Anchor PhenomenonCompounds, atoms, and their particles are inside you and flying around you, making up the substances and materials we use every day.
Each element has its own qualities that make it suitable for certain jobs: we use helium for balloons, iron for tools, and uranium for energy. To grasp what makes each so different, we must sweat the small stuff: the atoms. |
Overview of Topic:
To begin our journey through this course, you will meet your new best friend: the Periodic Table. This is a tool, and like any tool, becomes much more useful if you know how it works. The Periodic Table shows the elements, which are different varieties of atoms. Atoms are made up of smaller particles, called subatomic (meaning below, or less than, an atom) particles. The main three are: electrons, protons, and neutrons. At the center of the atom is a nucleus, from which the term "nuclear" comes. Reactions involving the nucleus of an atom involve much more power than a normal chemical reaction, which involves only electrons. Because of this, we can use this power for a variety of uses, including generating electricity. Nuclear power plants are a controversial topic, largely because people fear the unknown. As a class, we will debate the use of nuclear power from an engineering standpoint, and evaluate this solution to our energy needs in terms of cost, safety, reliability, and environmental impacts. |
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Essential Questions:
Why are elements such as gold and helium so different? What is radiation? Is nuclear power worth the risk? |
Learning Objectives:
I can create an atomic model for any given element. I can use models to illustrate different nuclear processes. I can develop logical arguments regarding nuclear power Goal Sheet |
Standards Addressed:
HS-PS1-1. Use the periodic table as a model to predict the relative properties of elements based on the patterns of electrons in the outermost energy level of atoms. HS-PS1-8. Develop models to illustrate the changes in the composition of the nucleus of the atom and the energy released during the processes of fission, fusion, and radioactive decay. HS-ETS1-3. Evaluate a solution to a complex real-world problem based on prioritized criteria and trade-offs that account for a range of constraints, including cost, safety, reliability, and aesthetics as well as possible social, cultural, and environmental impacts. |