Students will be able to make models of nuclear reactions and use these models to explain how the structure of the atom changes,
what type of particles would be emitted, and the energy associated with each.
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Nuclear Reactions Modeling Project
Choose 5 different elements (one for each of the following nuclear reactions). In order of your choosing, assign
each type of reaction an element and create a model illustrating the reaction. Your may make any type of
model you prefer, but some examples include a poster or stop motion.
The following reaction types must be illustrated in your model:
1. Fission
2. Fusion
3. Alpha Radioactive Decay
4. Beta Radioactive Decay
5. Gamma Radioactive Decay
Your model must indicate the following for each reaction:
A. Identify all elements present before and after the reaction (what determine the identity of an
element?)
B. Identify the number of protons and neutrons before and after the reaction (how the nucleus
changes)
C. Explain what particles may be emitted during each reaction
D. Explain how much energy will be associated with each reaction
E. Identify the name of the specific type of reaction (fission, fusion, alpha, beta, gamma)
F. Penetration depth of each type of radiation (alpha, beta, and gamma only)
G. Shielding (alpha, beta, and gamma only)
In the table below, draw or explain what you will be using to represent the following components of your model.
Each must be different color/shape and must ultimately be labeled in your final model.
Proton
Neutron
Nuclei (Nucleus)
Element
Alpha particle
Beta particle
Positron
Gamma ray
Parent (excited nuclear
state)
Daughter
Electrons
Shielding
Students will be able to make models of nuclear reactions and use these models to explain how the structure of the atom changes,
what type of particles would be emitted, and the energy associated with each.
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Conclusion Questions: Use your model to answer the following questions
1. What part of the atom determine the identify of an element?
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2. During which nuclear reactions does the identity of the element change? Which does not change?
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3. Identify the products of the following reactions.
us)
Alp
ha
t
Be
)
eta
B
in
a (m
s
(plu
149
64
Gd
Ga
mm
a
4. What does it mean that “atoms are conserved” during a chemical reaction?
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5. Do nuclear processes illustrate conservation of atoms? How or how not?
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6. Do nuclear processes illustrate conservation of protons and neutrons? How or how not?’
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7. During a chemical reaction, bonds, made from electrons, are broken and reformed. The difference
between the energy of the original bonds and the new bonds determines if energy will be released and how
much. A typical chemical bond stores approximately 1 eV (electron volt) of energy. In a nuclear reaction,
the forces holding protons and neutrons together is broken, which is much stronger than the attraction of a
neutron to the nuclear. A typical nuclear bond stores approximately 1,000,000 eV of energy.
Make a claim, supported by evidence from the paragraph above, to answer the question: “Which reaction
type releases more energy?”
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