Next Generation Science Standards

Performance Expectation

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.

Fission, fusion, and radioactive decay aren't the names of bands playing at Coachella this year. As students will learn, these processes involve changing the makeup of atoms and sometimes that results in a whole mess of energy spilling out. Students will bust out their art supplies to develop models showing how the nucleus changes and what that means for the energy involved.

Get ready to walk the nuclear runway with these activity ideas—it's modeling time:

• Assign small groups of students to create and videotape an infomercial for fusion, fission, or radioactive decay. Their two- to five-minute presentations should include information about the changes that occur in the nucleus of the atom, how much energy is required, and how much energy is released. It should also be entertaining; corny jokes should be part of the rubric.
• Provide students with poster paper and a bunch of random materials. Then have them create a three-dimensional model to show the changes in the nucleus during fusion, fission, and radioactive decay. If you're not sure what to get, blindfold yourself and go shopping at the dollar store. You'd be surprised what students can come up with given only a jar of garlic salt, a sponge, and dental floss.
• Divide students into expert groups and assign each group to research alpha, beta, and gamma radioactive decay. Each expert group will come up with a simple model to explain the process. Then have students find two members of the other expert groups to meet with and share their models. A quiz at the end is a great way to ensure they're talking radioactive decays and not favorite radio stations.
• Have students work in pairs to create a graphic novel involving fission, fusion, or radioactive decay. It should be creative, but also scientifically accurate, and it should explain how changes in the nucleus result in the release of energy.

Disciplinary Core Ideas

PS1.C – Nuclear Processes: 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.

We've all had our moments where we just kind of wig out. Maybe the six hundred fifty-ninth student today just asked to borrow a pencil, or your favorite white board marker is missing. We know, the struggle is real.

Well, atoms wig out sometimes too. We call this wigging out fusion, fission, or radioactive decay, depending on the level of mayhem that ensues.

Let's start with fusion, which is the maximum amount of freaking out an atom can do. Students should know that fusion happens when two or more light atoms (like hydrogen) come together to make a heavier atom, which requires a ton of energy and gives off even more energy as a result.

Then we've got fission, which is a step down on the atom freak out scale. Students should know that fission happens when an atom splits into two or more smaller atoms. It takes way less energy to split an atom apart than fusion, and it gives off less energy, too.

Lastly, we've got radioactive decay. Students should know that radioactive decay occurs when the protons in the nucleus of the atom can no longer be held together and the nucleus breaks apart.

In all three cases, the number of protons and neutrons remains the same. They're just split up into different groups. Students should get the gist of this concept pretty quickly, but may get a little lost in understanding the finer points of how the protons, neutrons, and electrons are involved. Manipulatives are an excellent way to get the point across, as we're going to guess you won't be attempting to make a nuclear reactor.

Science and Engineering Practices

Developing and Using Models: Develop a model based on evidence to illustrate the relationships between systems or between components of a system.

The goal for students here is to understand how the different parts of an atom can be manipulated to release energy. Since detonating an atom bomb, visiting the sun, and waiting four hundred and sixty-eight years to watch an atom radioactively decay aren't really options that fit into your class budget, a model is the next best thing.

Students' models should help them show the different changes that take place in the nucleus of the atom and how those changes can result in a big, gooey mess of energy. Diagrams, graphs, physical models, and animations are just a few ways students can go in modeling the concepts of how nuclei come apart.

Crosscutting Concepts

Energy and Matter: In nuclear processes, atoms are not conserved, but the total number of protons plus neutrons is conserved.

Nuclear reactions are a different animal than chemical reactions, so the same rules don't apply. Students should understand that when nuclear processes happen, atoms get the short end of the stick. They're getting broken apart or squashed together or slowly breaking down like a jalopy. However, no matter what happens to the atom, the total number of protons plus neutrons is always conserved. That's always reassuring to know during a nuclear reaction.