HS - PS1 - Fission, fusion and radioactive decay FINAL (CJT 4-8-14)

Module: Fission, Fusion and Radioactive Decay

DCI: PS1.C Nuclear processes, including fusion, fission, and radioactive decays of unstable nuclei, involve release or absorption of energy. The total number of neutrons plus protons does not change in any nuclear process.

PE: 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.

Clarification Statement: Emphasis is on simple qualitative models, such as pictures or diagrams, and on the scale of energy released in nuclear processes relative to other kinds of transformations.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment does not include quantitative calculation of energy released. Assessment is limited to alpha, beta, and gamma radioactive decays.]

The basic content of the standard is as follows.

- Energy is released or absorbed during fusion, fission and radioactive decay.

- In none of the processes listed does the total number of neutrons plus protons change.

- Kids also need to have a mental model of what is happening in each process

     - fusion (nuclei coming together)

     - fission (a nucleus separating into [two] parts)

     - radioactive decay (big nucleus giving off [alpha] particle and becoming a smaller nucleus)

http://www.geocities.ws/newideasfromtelewise/2011_03_31_backup/fusion_fission_between_neutron_proton.gif

http://www.nuceng.ca/igna/images/Alphae.gif