Atomic Energy OverviewAtomic Energy Overview

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20062006

American Nuclear SocietyAmerican Nuclear Society

ScheduleSchedule

9:00-9:559:00-9:55 IntroductionIntroduction 10:00-10:40 10:00-10:40 Station 1Station 1 10:45-11:25 10:45-11:25 Station 2Station 2 11:30-12:10 11:30-12:10 LunchLunch 12:15-12:5512:15-12:55 Station 3Station 3 1:00-1:401:00-1:40 Station 4Station 4 1:45-2:251:45-2:25 Station 5Station 5 2:30-3:002:30-3:00 Wrap-Up/Sign Blue CardsWrap-Up/Sign Blue Cards

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RequirementsRequirements1a. Radiation Effects1a. Radiation Effects1b.1b. Drawing of radiation symbolDrawing of radiation symbol 2. Definitions 2. Definitions 3. Scientists3. Scientists 4a. Model of atoms4a. Model of atoms 4b. Fission pictures4b. Fission pictures 4c. Critical Mass4c. Critical Mass 5c. Time, distance and shielding5c. Time, distance and shielding 5f. X-ray facility5f. X-ray facility 5g. Cloud Chambers5g. Cloud Chambers 6b. US nuclear reactors6b. US nuclear reactors 7. Nuclear Careers7. Nuclear Careers

Brief History of the AtomBrief History of the Atom 500 BC500 BC DemocritusDemocritus AtomAtom Long timeLong time (Romans (Romans Dark Ages) Dark Ages) 1808 AD1808 AD DaltonDalton Plum PuddingPlum Pudding 19111911 RutherfordRutherford NucleusNucleus 19131913 BohrBohr OrbitsOrbits 1920’s1920’s Many PeopleMany People Quantum MechanicsQuantum Mechanics

So What is an Atom?So What is an Atom?

Atoms are made up of protons, Atoms are made up of protons, neutrons & electronsneutrons & electrons• Protons: + chargeProtons: + charge• Neutrons: no chargeNeutrons: no charge• Electrons: - chargeElectrons: - charge

Atoms want to have Atoms want to have no net chargeno net charge• #protons = #electrons#protons = #electrons

Mass of an AtomMass of an Atom

MassesMasses• Proton: 1 amuProton: 1 amu• Neutron: 1 amuNeutron: 1 amu• Electron: .000549 amuElectron: .000549 amu

So mass of atom ~ So mass of atom ~ • #neutrons + #protons#neutrons + #protons

What is the mass of:What is the mass of:

Helium?Helium?• 2 protons, 2 neutrons, 2 electrons2 protons, 2 neutrons, 2 electrons

OxygenOxygen• 8 protons, 8 neutrons, 8 electrons8 protons, 8 neutrons, 8 electrons

Fissile UraniumFissile Uranium• 92 protons, 143 neutrons, 92 electrons92 protons, 143 neutrons, 92 electrons

Alpha particleAlpha particle• 2 protons, 2 neutrons2 protons, 2 neutrons

IsotopesIsotopes

Isotopes are similar elements with Isotopes are similar elements with different amounts of neutronsdifferent amounts of neutrons

There are similar propertiesThere are similar properties Some have very different propertiesSome have very different properties Stable and unstable versions of Stable and unstable versions of

atomsatoms

ExampleExample

Sodium – 23Sodium – 23• 11 protons, 12 neutrons11 protons, 12 neutrons• Very plentiful, in salt that you eat (NaCl)Very plentiful, in salt that you eat (NaCl)

Sodium – 24Sodium – 24• 11 protons, 13 neutrons11 protons, 13 neutrons• Not natural Not natural • Highly radioactive, beta decayHighly radioactive, beta decay• Used to find leaks in industrial pipesUsed to find leaks in industrial pipes

Put together models of:Put together models of: HydrogenHydrogen

• 1 Proton, 1 Proton, 1 electron1 electron DeuteriumDeuterium

• 1 Proton, 1 Proton, 1 neutron1 neutron, , 1 electron1 electron TritiumTritium

• 1 Proton, 1 Proton, 2 neutrons2 neutrons, , 1 electron1 electron

What are the atomic and mass What are the atomic and mass numbers of each isotope?numbers of each isotope?

What are the net charges?What are the net charges? (Requirement 4a)(Requirement 4a)

Fission vs. FusionFission vs. Fusion FissionFission

• Makes 20% of our electricityMakes 20% of our electricity• Breaking apart of Heavy NucleiBreaking apart of Heavy Nuclei• Nuclear Reactor tour later Today!Nuclear Reactor tour later Today!• Example:Example:

N + U-235 N + U-235 Ba-139 + Kr-94 + 3N Ba-139 + Kr-94 + 3N FusionFusion

• Powers the SunPowers the Sun• Hard to get on EarthHard to get on Earth• Combination of Light NucleiCombination of Light Nuclei• IEC Fusion Tour later Today!IEC Fusion Tour later Today!• Example:Example:

H-3 + H-2 H-3 + H-2 N + He-4 N + He-4 Tritium + Deuterium Tritium + Deuterium neutron + Helium neutron + Helium

Where does radiation come from?Where does radiation come from?

The sunThe sun Soil, water and vegetationSoil, water and vegetation Internal sourcesInternal sources

• Potassium-40 (bananas)Potassium-40 (bananas)• Carbon-14 (air)Carbon-14 (air)• Lead-210 (radon)Lead-210 (radon)

Man-made sourcesMan-made sources• Medical sources (x-rays, radiation…)Medical sources (x-rays, radiation…)• Nuclear PowerNuclear Power

Types of RadiationTypes of Radiation

Ionizing radiation Ionizing radiation • Produces ions in the material it strikesProduces ions in the material it strikes

Non-ionizing radiation Non-ionizing radiation • Can cause damage by physically striking materialCan cause damage by physically striking material

Ionizing radiationIonizing radiation

Alpha particlesAlpha particles

Beta particlesBeta particles

PhotonsPhotons• Gamma raysGamma rays• X-raysX-rays

Non-Ionizing RadiationNon-Ionizing Radiation

Low energy photonsLow energy photons• Such as light, infrared light, etcSuch as light, infrared light, etc

NeutronsNeutrons• Neutral particle in nucleusNeutral particle in nucleus• Like a proton but with no chargeLike a proton but with no charge

Radiation Penetration

Radioactive MaterialRadioactive Material

What is it?What is it?• Material that releases radiation.Material that releases radiation.

How do we get rid of it?How do we get rid of it?• When an atom decays, it may or may When an atom decays, it may or may

not be radioactive still. Eventually, it not be radioactive still. Eventually, it will decay to a stable atomwill decay to a stable atom

DecayDecay

Radioactive material has a Radioactive material has a probability of decayingprobability of decaying

Overtime, this probability averages Overtime, this probability averages into a half lifeinto a half life

Half-life: Amount of time it takes for Half-life: Amount of time it takes for half of the radioactive substance to half of the radioactive substance to decaydecay

Biological Effects of RadiationBiological Effects of Radiation

DeterministicDeterministic• responses which increase in severity responses which increase in severity

with increased dose (sunburn)with increased dose (sunburn)

StochasticStochastic• effects which have an increased effects which have an increased

probability of occurrence with increased probability of occurrence with increased dose, but whose severity is unchanged dose, but whose severity is unchanged (skin cancer)(skin cancer)

Radiation ExposureRadiation Exposure To avoid accidental To avoid accidental

exposure, we use the exposure, we use the radiation hazard symbolradiation hazard symbol

ColorsColors• Magenta or BlackMagenta or Black• Yellow BackgroundYellow Background

Color one of your own Color one of your own • Why must people use Why must people use

radioactive materials radioactive materials carefully?carefully?

(Requirement 1a and 1b)

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