|
Benchmark I
(2004-2005)
Your task is
to investigate and comprehend the nature of radiation, radioactive
materials, and related topics. In
your investigations you will examine the objectives from the point of view of the scientific & environmental;
social & cultural; economic; political & geopolitical domains
to gain a comprehensive understanding of these topics.
Objective
1: Arrive at an understanding of "radiation" that you
will use throughout this project.
Suggested activities:
1) Define “radioactive materials.”
2) Define the concept of “isotope.”
3) Define a “source” for radiation.
4) Define the types of radiation emitted by radioactive materials.
5) Make a diagram, or other visual aid, that shows the relative strength
of the types of radiation. Explain how these varying strengths relate
to the concept of “shielding”.
6) Use a visual presentation to define the concept of “half-life” of
a radioactive material.
Objective 2:
Identify and describe common radioactive isotopes.
Suggested activities:
1) Research, list, and briefly describe several radioactive isotopes
that affect the human body, or the environment either in a positive
or in a negative way.
2) Research and list common uses for several radioactive isotopes
in medicine, society and industry. The isotopes in activity #1 above
and this activity#2 might not be the same.
3) Do an inventory of your home and/or your school to determine what
products might contain radioactive materials
4) Contact your local police or fire department to see if they can
find you a Geiger counter (or other radiation-measuring device) to
determine the relative strengths of the radiation emitted items you
found above.
Objective 3:
Determine the health, biological, and environmental effects exposure
to radiation.
Suggested activities:
1) Research and report on the health and environmental effects of
radiation from the atomic bombs dropped at Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
Japan.
2) Research and report on the health and environmental effects of
the incident at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union.
3) Make a list of other know radiation-related incidents and the
outcome of these incidents.
4) Create a chart, poster, or other visual indicating what types
of radiation cause harm and at what levels.
Objective 4: Explain how radioactive materials are currently used
in medicine, society and industry.
Suggested activities:
1) Interview a radiologist about the use of radiological materials in her/his
job.
2) Determine which industries in your area might use radioactive materials.
Visit them to learn how they are used. [Hint: "neutron activation analysis"]
3) Investigate and report on the pros and cons of using radioactive materials
to power spacecraft.
4) Write a job description for a “health physicist” or any other
job that involves radioactive materials
5) Make suggestions for new uses of radioactive materials, or suggest how non-radioactive
materials might replace radioactive materials.
6) What are effective steps to prevent human exposure to radioactive substances
7) Invite an expert to speak to your class about the dangers of radioactive
materials.
8) Briefly describe the processes by which uranium might be enriched, and used
(including nuclear power and weapons. Make a visual of the levels of enrichment
for LEU, HEU, Weapons grade and others.
(Benchmark_1.PDF)
About Benchmarks
Benchmark Two
Benchmark Three
http://www.criticalissuesforum.org/bmk05_1.html
updated 06 February 2005
|
