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**After our investigations and discussions, you should be able to understand the articles below:**

 * [[file:Spent Nuclear Fuel Fukushima.pdf]] - New York Times. Radioactive cesium was mentioned in the article. Read it and let me know your understanding on Monday 28th May.**

This will assess criterion C - knowledge and understanding. If you have responded to questions of your own, and is related to the unit, you may write down the questions and responses. If you choose to respond to easy questions, the whats, you'd get grade 1 - 3. In order to score a better grade, choose the whys and hows questions. At the end of the assessment, print your responses with your name and class written clearly on it, and submit. You may then bring the questions home, and work on the questions INDEPENDENTLY at home. The next day, tomorrow, submit your **printed** responses again, but title your work as **version 2**, with name and class written clearly.
 * FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS**

Read the article above and respond the the following questions:

1) What is an isotope?

2) Where is cesium in the periodic table? Describe cesium.

3) What are the numbers of proton, electrons and neutrons in a) a non-radioactive cesium? b) a radio-active cesium?

4) Why is radio-active cesium a concern to our health?

5) What is radioactivity?

6) How have we used radioactivity to benefit our health?

7) Describe nuclear a) chain reaction b) fission c) fusion (difficult)

8) Explain how nuclear fission occurs.

9) Describe/explain how radioactivity can affect the environment.

10) What is an element?

11) What is the difference between atoms and molecules?

12) Why is uranium and plutonium radioactive?

13) How do we use uranium to produce electricity?

14) 'The public’s fears about the pool have grown in recent months as some scientists have warned that it has the most potential for setting off a new catastrophe, now that the three nuclear reactors that suffered meltdowns are in a more stable state, and as frequent quakes continue to rattle the region.'
 * a) What is the pool?**
 * b) Why the public have fears about the pool?**

15) 'To try to quell such worries, the government sent the environment and nuclear minister to the plant on Saturday, where he climbed a makeshift staircase in protective garb to look at the structure supporting the pool, **which he said appeared sound**. The minister, Goshi Hosono, added that although the government accepted Tepco’s assurances that **reinforcement** work had shored up the building, it had ordered the company to conduct further studies because of the **bulge**.'


 * a) Is the environment and nuclear minister qualified to give an assessment on the structure supporting the pool? Explain.**
 * b) Why would the pool need reinforcement?**
 * c) Describe what may have caused the 'bulge'?**

16) But many Japanese have scoffed at those assurances and point out that even if the building is able to withstand further quakes, which they question, the jury-rigged **cooling system** for the pool has already malfunctioned several times, including a 24-hour failure in April. Had the failures continued, they would have left the rods **'at risk of dangerous overheating'**. Govern- ment critics are especially concerned, since Tepco has said the soonest it could begin emptying the pool is late 2013, dashing hopes for earlier action.


 * a) Why do nuclear power plants need cooling systems?**
 * b) Describe what may happen when rods are at risk of dangerous overheating?**

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In preparation for Nuclear Energy essay writing, students will learn, through brainpop and other resources - radiation, radioactive isotopes and radioactivity. Students will read articles on radiation effects to prepare them to write on environmental and social effects of a nuclear disaster. Students will also learn how radiation is used in the medical field to treat cancer and obtain images through x-rays.=====

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@http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Alexander_Litvinenko
@http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/search/index.shtml?scope=gcsebitesize_include&q=nuclear%20energy (new)


 * Nuclear Energy brainpop:**

'Ka-Blam! What is nuclear energy? In this BrainPOP movie, Tim and Moby will tell you how energy can be taken out of an atom’s nucleus to create nuclear energy. You’ll find about the __process that splits atoms to create energy, and about which element power plants use to make fuel to power our homes__. __Discover the pros and cons of using nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels__. You’ll also learn how scientists are trying to harness safe and renewable energy from other sources. This is some powerful information!'


 * Good science wiki sample:**

http://bergmannscience.wikispaces.com/


 * Objective 3:**

2. How is nuclear energy produced?
a) What is nuclear fission? b) How is nuclear energy used to generate electricity?

3. What are the advantages and limitations of nuclear energy?
(see brainpop's nuclear energy) Please use tables to organize your information

The proper use of Google search will produce many relevant information. Wikipedia should not be a priority as a research material.

5. What are the disadvantages of nuclear energy; how does nuclear radiation affect health?
@http://www.ehow.com/about_5285742_environmental-effects-radiation.html