For theFor theGirl Scouts of the USAGirl Scouts of the USA

bybyThe University of Wisconsin, The University of Wisconsin, WIN and ANS student sectionsWIN and ANS student sections

Spring 2009Spring 2009

Nuclear Science Nuclear Science and Technology and Technology WorkshopWorkshop

AtomAtom• The smallest piece The smallest piece

of an elementof an element• Made up of Made up of

protons(+), protons(+), neutrons, and neutrons, and electrons(-) electrons(-)

• The number of The number of protons protons determines the determines the kindkind

RadiationRadiation• The energetic particles or rays thrown out The energetic particles or rays thrown out

by radioactive elements or produced by X-by radioactive elements or produced by X-ray machinesray machines

• The best term for atomic radiation is The best term for atomic radiation is ionizing radiation, because sound waves, ionizing radiation, because sound waves, light waves, and radio waves are also light waves, and radio waves are also kinds of radiationkinds of radiation

Ionizing Non-Ionizing Alpha (a)Beta (b)

Gamma (g)X-Rays

Neutrons

Radio wavesMicrowaves

InfraredUltraviolet

Visible Light

Background RadiationBackground Radiation• The ionizing radiation always present The ionizing radiation always present

in nature from cosmic rays or from in nature from cosmic rays or from radioactive materials in the air, radioactive materials in the air, water, food, ground, building water, food, ground, building materials, and some consumer materials, and some consumer productsproducts

Radiation DoseRadiation Dose• The amount of The amount of

radiation radiation received from received from medical X-rays, medical X-rays, background background sources, or other sources, or other sourcessources

ContaminationContamination• Radioactive material deposited or Radioactive material deposited or

dispersed in materials or places dispersed in materials or places where it is not wantedwhere it is not wanted

Chain Reaction and Chain Reaction and FissionFission

• Takes place in a nuclear reactorTakes place in a nuclear reactor• Makes energy by splitting atoms Makes energy by splitting atoms

apartapart

PlutoniumPlutonium• Small traces are found in the Earth's Small traces are found in the Earth's

crust or created from uraniumcrust or created from uranium• Some forms of this element can fissionSome forms of this element can fission

UraniumUranium• Some forms of Some forms of

this element can this element can fission - used to fission - used to make fuel for make fuel for nuclear power nuclear power plants, weakly plants, weakly radioactiveradioactive

• Found in soil, Found in soil, rock and waterrock and water

FusionFusion• The process that The process that

makes a whole lot makes a whole lot of energy by of energy by putting atoms putting atoms together to make together to make a heavier nucleusa heavier nucleus

• Not used in Not used in nuclear reactorsnuclear reactors

• Possible for power Possible for power in the futurein the future

Marie CurieMarie Curie• Discovered the element PoloniumDiscovered the element Polonium• Won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry Won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry

and Physics and Physics (only 4 people have gotten 2 (only 4 people have gotten 2 prizes)prizes)

• Founded the Curie Institute of Founded the Curie Institute of Oncology in PolandOncology in Poland

Ida NoddackIda Noddack

• Among the first Among the first physicists to physicists to propose nuclear propose nuclear fissionfission

• Discovered element Discovered element 75, Rhenium, with 75, Rhenium, with her husbandher husband

Rosalyn YalowRosalyn Yalow• Helped develop a Helped develop a

radioisotope tracing radioisotope tracing technique that technique that allows the allows the measurement of tiny measurement of tiny quantities of various quantities of various biological substances biological substances in the blood in the blood

• She is still alive She is still alive today!today!

Next:Next:• Group 1 goes to Station AGroup 1 goes to Station A• Group 2 goes to Station BGroup 2 goes to Station B• Group 3 goes to Station CGroup 3 goes to Station C• Group 4 goes to Station DGroup 4 goes to Station D• Group 5 goes to Station EGroup 5 goes to Station E

• Proceed in alphabetical order for the Proceed in alphabetical order for the rest of the day (i.e. B goes to C; E rest of the day (i.e. B goes to C; E goes to A)goes to A)