Curated OER
Radioactivity, Time, and Age
Four activities demonstrate the chain reaction of nuclear fission to your physical science fans: falling dominoes, snapping mouse traps, throwing paper wads, and igniting a series of matches. They perform additional...
Curated OER
Investigate the Sonoran Desert
High schoolers read article in Chain Reaction about the Sonoran Desert and answer questions.
Curated OER
Using "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears" to Teach Cause and Effect
Students discuss cause and effect relationships and the chain reaction involved before listening to the story "Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears". Students create flow charts to show the chain reactions of causes and effects in the...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Nuclear Fission
Analyze nuclear fission chain reactions and how to prevent them as well as explore ways to control nuclear reactions through these simulations.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Nuclear Fission
Start a chain reaction, or introduce non-radioactive isotopes to prevent one. Control energy production in a nuclear reactor.
PBS
Pbs: Fermi Creates Controlled Nuclear Reaction
From the Science Odyssey section of the PBS web site. The work of Enrico Fermi in the development of a sustainable, yet controllable nuclear fission reaction is described. The efforts of Fermi's team at the University of Chicago are...
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
The Forties: War and Peace
Describes the design of the first nuclear reactor by Enrico Fermi and his successful development of a self-ustaining nuclear chain reaction. Describes the evolution of the Manhattan Project and their race to develop the first atomic...
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Center: Tinker Ball
Build a virtual Rube Goldberg machine, and try to create a successful path for the ball. Requires Adobe Flash.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory: The Graphite Reactor
This resource describes the world's first nuclear reactor and the role which it played in the Manhattan Project. Also discussed are topics such as the goal of plutonium development for nuclear weapons, the goals of the top-secret,...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Chemistry: Neutrons
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Explores the discovery and properties of the neutron and the process of nuclear fission.
Atomic Archive
The Atomic Archive: Nuclear Fission
Several pages describing the nuclear fission process. Fission reactions are depicted with diagrams and described in words. Part of an extensive site with well-written information on nuclear power and nuclear science.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Nuclear Fission
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What happens during nuclear fission and what a nuclear chain reaction is. How nuclear fission can be used to produce energy and the pros and cons of using that energy.
Atomic Archive
The Atomic Archive: Nuclear Chain Reactions
A couple of pages of text and graphics describing nuclear chain reactions. The means by which neutrons intiate and sustain a reaction is explained. A second page describes the complications associated with uncontrolled nuclear chain...