Atoms - Old School and Cutting Edge (Readings for Sept. 16)

So, we have gotten an introduction to radiation in the news, and worked on distinguishing radiation and radioactivity.  Perhaps it's time to delve into the deeper structure of matter and understand atoms, nuclei, and radiation more carefully?

Here are readings/viewings for next week, with a few guiding comments to consider what might be important for next week's quiz and/or discussions.  Also remember that reviewing the slides from this week (on portal) is important!

1) Your basic intro to atoms will be a totally awesome 1950s animation introducing the atom and the physics of uranium fission.  This is called A is for Atom and it's about 15 minutes long.  As you're watching, consider this an introduction to the key concepts of "isotopes," "transmutation" and "fission."  Also, pay attention to the technological/practical applications of radioactivity that the video talks about, as well as the overall tone and attitude of the piece towards nuclear technology.

2) Are new elements still getting discovered and added to the periodic table?  Two readings about Ununseptium, from The New York Times and a Discovery Magazine blog.  Key concepts here:  What's an "atomic number?"   How are new elements "discovered?" Is Ununseptium radioactive?  Do scientists know if there's an end to the periodic table?

3) Whoa - anti-atoms! BBC article on trapping anti-hydrogen.  There's a lot here - key concepts are:  What is antimatter?  What is an anti-atom?  Why are they so hard to study?  Why are they interesting to scientists?

Alas, I looked for some good articles to cover "Can we see atoms?  Photograph them?" but everything I found was crappy.  We'll talk about it in class!