1. Atoms—Day 10 Materials Needed: Writing Utensil Folder Notebook
Physical Science
Atoms—Day 10
Materials Needed:
Writing Utensil
Folder
Notebook

2. Day 10 Bell Work: What do you know about nuclear radiation? Agenda:
Notes on nuclear radiation
Radtown USA activity
During the bell work, try to identify any misconceptions students may have regarding nuclear radiation. It may be something they see as scary, or it may be something they associate with fictional characters (like all those superheroes).

3. Q1: Why is it impossible to change iron to gold through physical or chemical changes?
A. Scientists do not have the right materials. B. Metals cannot be heated to high temperatures. C. Elements cannot be changed into other elements. D. Scientists do not know how to change iron to gold.
SC8.2.1.a DOK 2

4. Q2: Which substance is composed of more than one element?
A. carbon B. gold C. sodium D. water
S.C a DOK 1

5. Which of these substances are liquids at room temperature (20C)?
Mathematics Booster
Which of these substances are liquids at room temperature (20C)?
Students will need to look at melting pint as well as boiling point to determine this.

6. Greek/Latin Greek and Latin Meaning Paragraph pro in front of, first
not, without
tom
cut, incision
-ide
a thing connected with or belong to
iso
same

7. Today’s Objectives
I will know what nuclear radiation is and why it occurs.
I will be able to identify common sources of nuclear radiation around me.

8. Bell Work Answer
What do you know about nuclear radiation?

9. A1: Why is it impossible to change iron to gold through physical or chemical changes?
A. Scientists do not have the right materials. There is no way to change iron to gold through physical or chemical changes because they are both elements. B. Metals cannot be heated to high temperatures. Metals can be heated to high temperatures. Iron melts at 1536 °C (2797 °F) and gold melts at 1063 °C (1945 °F). C. Elements cannot be changed into other elements. The only way to change one element into another is through natural decay. There is not a physical or chemical way to change one element into another. D. Scientists do not know how to change iron to gold. Iron and gold are both elements. Elements cannot be changed into other elements by physical or chemical changes.
SC8.2.1.a DOK 2

10. A2: Which substance is composed of more than one element?
A. carbon Carbon is made up of only one element, carbon (C). B. gold Gold is made up of only one element, gold, (Au). C. sodium Sodium is made up of only one element, sodium (Na). D. water Water is made up of hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
S.C a DOK 1

11. Answer: Octane, Water, and Acetic acid
Mathematics Booster
Which of these substances are liquids at room temperature (20C, or 68F)?
Answer: Octane, Water, and Acetic acid
Students will need to look at melting pint as well as boiling point to determine this.

12. Isotope Demonstration
Use the “make isotopes” part of this simulation to show that nuclei become unstable as neutrons are added. Ask them – what happens to unstable nuclei?

13. Radioactive Decay
Radioactive decay is the process in which an unstable atomic nucleus spontaneously emits charged particles and energy.
Any atom containing an unstable nucleus is called a radioactive isotope, or radioisotope for short.
During nuclear decay, atoms of one element can change into atoms of a different element.
Explain that an unstable nucleus attempts to become stable by giving off particles (protons, neutrons, or electrons) and energy. The illustration on this slide shows an unstable nucleus (like the shaking ones seen in the isotope demonstration) spitting out protons and neutrons. After getting rid of the particles and energy, the nucleus is more stable than it had been. A nucleus can go through this process many times until it final becomes stable. Stress that this process is spontaneous and occurs because the isotope is unstable.

14. Nuclear Radiation
Nuclear radiation - charged particles and energy that are emitted from the nuclei of radioisotopes.
The energy and charged particles given off by those unstable nuclei are called nuclear radiation.

15. Background Radiation We are exposed to nuclear radiation every day.
Some of this radiation is background radiation from radioisotopes that occur naturally in the environment.
Background radiation is usually low enough to be safe.
The earth gives off radiation. In the US, the amount of radiation depends on location. The pictures shows how radiation varies. Students will investigate other common sources of radiation in the environment during the activity later this period.

16. Effects of Nuclear Radiation
When nuclear radiation is too high, it can damage living cells.
The radiation can break the bonds between proteins and DNA molecules, and cells may not function properly.
Prolonged exposure to nuclear radiation can cause cancer or tissue damage.
Exposure to 5 rem can change blood chemistry. Exposure to 400 rem can lead to death. Our exposure (which students will calculate in the activity later this period) is measured in millirems. Remind students that there are 1000 millirems in 1 rem. The average annual exposure in the US is 620 millirems.

17. Detecting Nuclear Radiation
Nuclear radiation can be detected using a Geiger counter.
A Geiger counter detects radiation as it ionizes a gas inside a tube.
The ions produce an electric current, which is measured.
The greater the current, the greater the radiation.

18. RadTown, USA – Online Version
Radiation happens all around us.
Go to and explore sources of radiation.

19. Homework
Finish Greek/Latin paragraph

20. Exit Slip
Explain radiation.