We had a really awesome discussion about the atomic bomb in class today. Our textbook includes a "connection to language arts" section in each chapter. In this chapter, the reading was a summary that explained how the atomic bomb works and the effects it had on Japan and the end of WW2. We discussed the physics of the bomb as well as the social and political implications it holds. Our conversation included current issues between Israel and Iran and what we think would happen if a nuclear war ever did break out. The atomic bomb releases massive amounts of chemical energy in an extremely exothermic reaction. Potential chemical energy is stored in chemical bonds and in the stronger "bonds" that hold together actual atoms. Here are some short videos that explain the atomic bomb in history.
One of the students asked if it would be worse to have an atom bomb dropped or to blow up a nuclear reactor. The worst disaster at a nuclear power plant in history was in 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in the Ukraine. I am posting a link to a site that has straightforward information about the accident and an interesting slideshow:
Here is a video about the Chernobyl accident:
Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster
More social studies lessons on World Events at NeoK12.com
I really appreciated everyone's contributions to our discussion today. I am impressed with how attentive and thoughtful you were!
Please remember to do your HW on the textbook website and write down anything from this chapter that you do not completely understand so that we can review it before break.
I will be posting your takehome test on this blog on Friday.
Ms: How much points in the test.
ReplyDeleteMy God, Nuclear explosions and leaks are dangerous
ReplyDelete