Introduction
The purpose of this project was to create a model conveying information from the cosmic chemistry unit. For the project we could pick three subjects: stars life cycle and creation of elements, energy transfer mechanisms and how energy from fusion in the sun reach Earth, and changes in the composition of the nucleus and energy released during fission, fusion and radioactive decay. My group chose stars life cycle and the creation of elements. To communicate the information researched we made a poster show different stars life cycle and text giving more content to whats occuring.
Content
- Subatomic particles - particles much smaller than atoms, for example: protons, neutrons, and electrons. These particles are the building blocks of the universe and the particles that are used to create elements.
- Fission - a process were the nucleus of an atom splits into two smaller nuclei
- Fusion - a reaction were two or more nuclei are combined to form one or more different nuclei. Fusion is how all elements up to iron are created in stars.
- Radioactive decay - the breakdown of a nucleus, causing the release of energy and matter
- Half-life - the time taken for a isotope to become half its original value
- Nuclear transmutation - the conversion of one element or an isotope into another element
- Radiation - the emission of energy as a waves or particles
- Nucleosynthesis - the process of creating new nuclei from protons and neutrons. Nucleosynthesis is how elements heavier than iron are created in supernovas and stars.
- Alpha particle - a helium nucleus emitted by radioactive substances
- Beta particle - a high-energy electron emitted during radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus
- Gamma rays - electromagnetic radiation caused from radioactive decay of a nucleus. It has the shortest wave length and highest energy of all electromagnetic waves. Its measured in meters and waves per second.
Project
Reflection
This project was difficult. The directions for the assignment were very vague which resulted in our group being unsure on how to proceed with our project and if we were hitting all the points to do well on it. Besides the ambiguity of the project we had little time to work on it, only a few days. However, we finished the poster and it turn out fine for what it is. During the project, there were two things I did well on was leadership and work ethic. First is leadership, I help decide the subject our project would focus on and split up the portions we would research. An example, is in the beginning of the project I came up with main ideas we would have to research to meet the criteria for our project. Second is work ethic, I would stay on task during class and didn't get distracted. I use each work day to its fullest and would use my own time to improve the project. An example, we were unable to finish the poster with the time given in class. So brought it home and spent the weekend finishing the project and improving potions.
Things I could have done better during the project were time management and presenting. The time management for our group wasn't the best. For the first day of the project, we did do much besides coming up with ideas for what do and what we wanted our project to be on. This put a dent in the time we had to finish the project. For the future I'm going to try be more decisive with what we have to do and ask the teacher if I am confused on something so I don't waste time. For the presentation part of the project I believe I could have done better. I was a little quick on speaking, did make much eye contact, and didn't talking about everything I wanted too. The best way for me to improve is to know my information better before presenting and practice giving more presentations
Things I could have done better during the project were time management and presenting. The time management for our group wasn't the best. For the first day of the project, we did do much besides coming up with ideas for what do and what we wanted our project to be on. This put a dent in the time we had to finish the project. For the future I'm going to try be more decisive with what we have to do and ask the teacher if I am confused on something so I don't waste time. For the presentation part of the project I believe I could have done better. I was a little quick on speaking, did make much eye contact, and didn't talking about everything I wanted too. The best way for me to improve is to know my information better before presenting and practice giving more presentations