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Fusion and Fission MatchCardThe Fusion and Fission MatchCard introduces the concept of nuclear energy for students in 5th - 8th grade in the Light & Energy Unit Study. .
Nuclear EnergyObjective: Contrast fusion and fission.The goal of this MatchCard is to introduce nuclear energy as one of the types of energy used. Further study of this topic will be done at the high school level. Note: This MatchCard is for students in 5th grade and over who have previously had some exposure to elementary chemistry and realize an atom has protons in the nucleus and electrons circulating outside. Background: Chemical bonds occur when two atoms share electrons circulating OUTSIDE of the nucleus. Chemical bonds require energy to form and relesae energy when broken. Nuclear energy occurs because of the fusion or fission of the protons INSIDE the nucleus. This requires or produces millions times more energy and does not occur under usual conditions on this planet. FusionFusion is the union of two nuclei and requires a tremendous amount of energy to occur. This only occurs on the sun or stars where the intense heat causes two atoms to fuse. In this way, two hydrogen atoms which both have one electron and one proton are fused to produced a helium atom with two protons and two electrons. With greater heat expenditure, larger atoms will be produced.Helpful Hint: Fusion sounds somewhat like "union" and can be remembered because two nucelei are united. FissionFission is the division of the protons in a nucleus to produce two smaller atoms. The splitting of the atom produces tremendous amounts of energy. Nuclear power plants usually split uranium, the atom which has 235 protons in the nucleus.Why is uranium used? It is easier to split uranium, because the large amount of protons in the nucleus are less stable. Helium, which has only two protons in the nucleus, is very stable. At this point, there are no conditions on this planet that would enable helium to be split. Helpful hint: Fission rhymes with division, and is the dividing of the atom. Hands On ActivityWhile MatchCard Science promotes hands-on learning for science exploration, there is an obvious limit to the ability to conduct experiments with nuclear energy. Here is an idea for developing a model and poster to help illustrate fusion and fission.
Using the Fusion and Fission MatchCardThis is the twelth Matchcard of the Light and Energy Unit Study. You can download the Fusion and Fission Matchcard here.The student matches the characteristics of fusion and fission with the illustration of each. The second page is the Instructor's Guide with the correct answers. The third page has the Information Pieces. Student's cut them apart and place them in the correct place on their copy of the Matchcard (first page.) For more information on how to use the Matchcards, see the MatchCard Science Instructor's Guide. MatchCard ScienceThe activities and illustration above are from MatchCard Science, a homeschool science unit study. For the complete Light and Energy Unit Study follow this link. This unit study provides:
Science NotebookIf you are just using this single project, and are not in need of a full unit study, you might want your student to complete a science notebook entry for this project.Return from the Fusion and Fission Matchcard to the MatchCard Science Main Page. |
Homeschool CurriculumRelax and watch their writing take off!Who said grammar had to be boring?A great strategy for poor spellersA mother's plea, A son's promise
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