“IS NUCLEAR POWER SUSTAINABLE?” PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT PROJECT OVERVIEW
KEY
Mastering Demonstrates exceptional performance. The work is complete, correct, and high quality.
85-100%
Developing Meets the minimum criteria. The work is partially complete, partially correct, or of mediocre quality. 70-84%
Emerging Below performance standards. The work is missing or entirely incorrect.
0-69%
Guiding Question:
We can argue that we are in the midst of a nuclear crisis. International powers may be stockpiling nuclear weapons. Nuclear reactors
can break down – with disastrous consequences. We accumulate huge amounts of nuclear waste as byproducts of medical, research and
industrial use. At the same time, our most widespread methods of energy generation pollute and drain our natural resources. People all
over the world are asking: is nuclear energy sustainable? Is it worth the price? Presentations will be on Thurs 2-18 and Friday 2-19.
In your groups of no more than 3 people, create a public service announcement for a real audience (the format and
audience is your group’s choice), explaining the chemistry of nuclear energy and promoting a particular point of view
regarding whether or not nuclear energy is sustainable. Your group will be assigned either Topic A or Topic B.
Essential Vocabulary:
Topic
Compareradioactive/ity,
and contrast alpha,
beta,
and gamma
radiation.
question:
“Is the
nuclear
powerdecay,
offered
by alpha,alpha
beta,decay,
and
Topic
A –A:radiation,
nucleus,
proton,
electron,
neutron,Answer
isotope,the
stable,
unstable,
band
of stability,
emission,
gamma
sustainable?”
while
addressing
thenuclear
benefits,
risks, uses,
and disadvantages
of using
these
forms of
nuclearproduct
beta
decay,radiation
gamma decay,
positron,
nuclear
symbol,
equation,
massadvantages,
number, atomic
number, parent
nuclide,
daughter
nuclide,
energy.
Topic B: Compare and contrast nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Answer the question: “Is the nuclear power offered by nuclear fission
Topic
– radiation,
nucleus,
proton,the
electron,
neutron,
isotope,
stable, unstable,
band of stability,
and Bnuclear
fusionradioactive/ity,
sustainable?” while
addressing
benefits,
risks, uses,
advantages,
and disadvantages
of thesedecay,
formsemission,
of nuclearnuclear
energy.fusion,
nuclear fission, transmutation, parent nuclide, daughter nuclide, product, half-life, nuclear reactor, nuclear bomb, fuel rod, nuclear waste
Learning
Outcome
Chemistry
Content
80 points
MASTERING
(High Performance)
Your product should clearly demonstrate or explain:
Topic A Guiding Question: Compare and contrast alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. Answer the question: “Is the power
offered by alpha, beta, and gamma radiation sustainable?” while addressing the benefits, risks, uses, advantages, and
disadvantages of using these forms of nuclear energy.






Define the nature and properties of alpha, beta, and gamma decay in terms of charge, mass, and penetrating ability.
(10 pts)
Using examples, balance nuclear equations involving alpha, beta, and/or gamma decay if a parent or daughter nuclide
is left out. (10 pts)
Using examples, predict the products of alpha, beta, and/or gamma decay if given the type of decay and the parent
nuclide. (10 pts)
Describe the benefits, risks, uses, advantages, and disadvantages of using these forms of nuclear energy. (20 pts)
The relevance of these types of decay to the sustainability of our uses for alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. (10 pts)
Using evidence gathered from multiple credible sources, and acknowledging information from all
sides, effectively and thoughtfully answer the Topic A Guiding Question. (20 pts)
Topic B Guiding Question: Compare and contrast nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Answer the question: “Is the power
offered by nuclear fission and nuclear fusion sustainable?” while addressing the benefits, risks, uses, advantages, and
disadvantages of these forms of nuclear energy.






Describe the nature and properties of nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. (10 pts)
Using examples, balance and predict nuclear equations involving nuclear fusion or nuclear fission if a parent or
daughter nuclide is left out. (10 pts)
Using examples, describe what half-life is, how it is calculated, and how to use it in calculations to determine the
original amount of isotope or the amount of isotope remaining after a specific length of time. (10 pts)
Describe the relevance of half-life to the sustainability of our uses for nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. (10 pts)
Describe the benefits, risks, uses, advantages, and disadvantages of using these forms of nuclear energy, including a
general description of how a nuclear reactor works, how nuclear waste is generated, and what happens to it. (10 pts
benetifs/risks/uses/advantages/disadvantages+ 10 pts nuclear reactor/nuclear waste discussion)
Using evidence gathered from multiple credible sources, and acknowledging information from all
sides, effectively and thoughtfully answer the Topic B Guiding Question. (20 pts)
Presentation

(30 pts)


Group
collaboration
(20 pts)
Individual
collaboration
(20 pts)
Information
Literacy
Each member contributes to the presentation and uses strong oral presentation skills such as effective use
of expression, gestures, eye contact, enthusiasm, correct dress, and high energy level.
The presentation explains aspects of nuclear chemistry to an audience of your choosing and in the format
of your choosing, following the guidelines in the Chemistry Content section.
The presentation promotes a point of view to support the sustainability (or lack of sustainability) of
nuclear energy.






Group’s digital folder has almost daily postings of work in progress.
Project is on time and complete.
Group has regular meetings with evidence kept in the group worklog.
Group worklog(s) with amendments and task list is/are complete and thoughtful.
Group members share information and learning.
Group members are knowledgeable of the work of other members of that group. This will be counted
as a lab grade.



Individual worklogs are complete and thoughtful; deadlines are met
Each group member is held accountable.
Individual Collaboration is worth one (set of) daily quiz grade, out of 20 pts.


Cite all sources used in correct MLA format (easybib.com)
If written text warrants, use parenthetical citations
(10 points)
A note about point values, and grades
Grades wise, here is the general point assignment
-
Chemistry Content + Presentation + Information Literacy (120 pts) – Test
(This will be scaled down to be equal in points to the Thermo/Nuclear Test)
-
Group Collaboration (20 pts) – Lab
- Individual Collaboration (20 pts) - Quizzes