Radioactivity is a natural process unstable elements go through to shed neutrons and become more stable. Radioactive elements decay, or release radiation, into the environment. Natural background radiation comes from space, the atmosphere and the earth itself. Humans use radioactive processes to generate electricity, to perform medical tests, and to make military weapons.
In a nuclear power plant, scientists and technicians alike maintain a slightly supercritical nuclear reaction called nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is the controlled splitting of radioactive atoms. In March 2011, a massive earthquake and tsunami damaged several Japanese nuclear power facilities. The earthquake compromised the facilities’ ability to cool the nuclear reactions. Thus the reactions inside the nuclear core are growing increasingly unstable and heating up.
As of right now, the situation in Japan has yet to be resolved, but the environmental contamination and public health risk seem to remain relatively low.
Useful Teacher Links:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12732015
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12740843
http://library.thinkquest.org/3471/radiation_types_body.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Background_radiation
http://www.lon-capa.org/~mmp/applist/decay/decay.htm
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Word of the Week: Radioactivity
