Apologia Physical Science: Module 13 Uodate

The Physical Science Co-op meets once a week for three hours.  This morning the kids did the lesson on Module 13.  Our class had already studies atomic theory with the Periodic Table.  They had created time-lines mapping the development of Atomic theory.  I had the kids complete the inventory of their person exposure to radiation first. (I have a Chemistry class which overlaps.  This gave me time to go over the instructions for their lab.)  We talked a little about radiation.  Gamma radiation is the most penetrating form and similar to x-Rays.  The average person in the U.S. receives an annual dose of about 360 milli-rems.  How much radiation is too much?  The answer varies.  Most of our knowledge about radiation exposure comes from research from atomic bombs,atomic testing, and accidents, such as Chernobyl.  Next the kids watched the two short videos posted in earlier blogs.  We talked about fission and splitting atoms in terms of releasing a load of energy owing to the strong nuclear force holding the atom together.  During our discussion, radon, the recent nuclear disaster in Japan, the controversy over Iran all came up.  You can see that nuclear energy is a rich source for a lively discussion.  My emphasis is the need to safeguard fissionable materials.

Here are the kids doing half life with pennies and the ping pong ball on the mouse trap.

The class did the penny half life experiment with three trials and a graph.  As a tip, I went to the bank to get rolls of pennies to streamline the time.  I left them to read the article on the Iceman.  Next class, we are going to explain half-life in terms of dating Otsi, the Ice-man.

The topic of nuclear energy lends itself to a wide range of subjects: Three Mile Island, Chernoby, how a nuclear power plant operates, a comparison of breeder versus boiling water reactors, politics in Iran or Iraq.  Did you know there is tourism to Chernobly?  Would you go?  See?  Module 13 can launch many interesting discussions!