Area of Study 2
How is energy from the nucleus utilised?
In this area of study, students build on their understanding of energy to explore energy that derives from the nuclei of atoms. They learn about the properties of the radiation from the nucleus and the effects of this radiation on human cells and tissues and apply this understanding to the use of radioisotopes in medical therapy.
Students explore the transfer of energy from the nucleus through the processes of fission and fusion and apply these ideas to evaluate the viability of nuclear energy as an energy source for Australia.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain, apply and evaluate nuclear radiation, radioactive decay and nuclear energy.
Key knowledge
Radiation from the nucleus
· explain nuclear stability with reference to the forces in the nucleus including electrostatic forces, the strong nuclear force and the weak nuclear force
· model radioactive decay as random decay with a particular half-life, including mathematical modelling with reference to whole half-lives
· describe the properties of α, β-, β+ and γ radiation
· explain nuclear transformations using decay equations involving α, β-, β+ and γ radiation
· analyse decay series diagrams with reference to type of decay and stability of isotopes
· explain the effects of α, β and γ radiation on humans, including:
- different capacities to cause cell damage
- short- and long-term effects of low and high doses
- ionising impacts of radioactive sources outside and inside the body
- calculations of absorbed dose (gray), equivalent dose (sievert) and effective dose (sievert)
· evaluate the use of medical radioisotopes in therapy including the effects on healthy and damaged tissues and cells
Particles in the nucleus
• explain nuclear stability with reference to the forces that operate over very small distances
• describe the radioactive decay of unstable nuclei with reference to half-life
• model radioactive decay as random decay with a particular half-life, including mathematical modelling with reference to whole half-lives
• apply a simple particle model of the atomic nucleus to explain the origin of α, β-, β+ and γ radiation, including changes to the number of nucleons
• explain nuclear transformations using decay equations involving α, β-, β+ and γ radiation
• analyse decay series diagrams with reference to type of decay and stability of isotopes
• relate predictions to the subsequent discoveries of the neutron, neutrino, positron and Higgs boson
• describe quarks as components of subatomic particles
• distinguish between the two types of forces holding the nucleus together: the strong nuclear force and the weak nuclear force
• compare the nature of leptons, hadrons, mesons and baryons
• explain that for every elementary matter particle there exists an antimatter particle of equal mass and opposite charge, and that if a particle and its antiparticle come into contact they will annihilate each other to create radiation.
Nuclear energy
· explain, qualitatively, nuclear energy as energy resulting from the conversion of mass
· explain fission chain reactions including:
- the effect of mass and shape on criticality
- neutron absorption and moderation
· compare the processes of nuclear fusion and nuclear fission
· explain, using a binding energy curve, why both fusion and fission are reactions that release energy
· investigate the viability of nuclear energy as an energy source for Australia.
How is energy from the nucleus utilised?
In this area of study, students build on their understanding of energy to explore energy that derives from the nuclei of atoms. They learn about the properties of the radiation from the nucleus and the effects of this radiation on human cells and tissues and apply this understanding to the use of radioisotopes in medical therapy.
Students explore the transfer of energy from the nucleus through the processes of fission and fusion and apply these ideas to evaluate the viability of nuclear energy as an energy source for Australia.
Outcome 2
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain, apply and evaluate nuclear radiation, radioactive decay and nuclear energy.
Key knowledge
Radiation from the nucleus
· explain nuclear stability with reference to the forces in the nucleus including electrostatic forces, the strong nuclear force and the weak nuclear force
· model radioactive decay as random decay with a particular half-life, including mathematical modelling with reference to whole half-lives
· describe the properties of α, β-, β+ and γ radiation
· explain nuclear transformations using decay equations involving α, β-, β+ and γ radiation
· analyse decay series diagrams with reference to type of decay and stability of isotopes
· explain the effects of α, β and γ radiation on humans, including:
- different capacities to cause cell damage
- short- and long-term effects of low and high doses
- ionising impacts of radioactive sources outside and inside the body
- calculations of absorbed dose (gray), equivalent dose (sievert) and effective dose (sievert)
· evaluate the use of medical radioisotopes in therapy including the effects on healthy and damaged tissues and cells
Particles in the nucleus
• explain nuclear stability with reference to the forces that operate over very small distances
• describe the radioactive decay of unstable nuclei with reference to half-life
• model radioactive decay as random decay with a particular half-life, including mathematical modelling with reference to whole half-lives
• apply a simple particle model of the atomic nucleus to explain the origin of α, β-, β+ and γ radiation, including changes to the number of nucleons
• explain nuclear transformations using decay equations involving α, β-, β+ and γ radiation
• analyse decay series diagrams with reference to type of decay and stability of isotopes
• relate predictions to the subsequent discoveries of the neutron, neutrino, positron and Higgs boson
• describe quarks as components of subatomic particles
• distinguish between the two types of forces holding the nucleus together: the strong nuclear force and the weak nuclear force
• compare the nature of leptons, hadrons, mesons and baryons
• explain that for every elementary matter particle there exists an antimatter particle of equal mass and opposite charge, and that if a particle and its antiparticle come into contact they will annihilate each other to create radiation.
Nuclear energy
· explain, qualitatively, nuclear energy as energy resulting from the conversion of mass
· explain fission chain reactions including:
- the effect of mass and shape on criticality
- neutron absorption and moderation
· compare the processes of nuclear fusion and nuclear fission
· explain, using a binding energy curve, why both fusion and fission are reactions that release energy
· investigate the viability of nuclear energy as an energy source for Australia.
