Lesson 9: Prehistory of Fission

This week we will explore the history of atomic physics from the beginning of the twentieth century up to the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938. Most people learned a simple picture of the atom in high school: a central nucleus containing protons and neutrons, surrounded by orbiting electrons.

 

We will trace the origins of this model, and the origins of its ingredients. The discovery of the neutron in 1932 led to the idea of a chain reaction. The discovery of fission in 1938 made chain reactions a practical possibility for the first time. But may years of work lay ahead to show that chain reactions could generate useful power, or, more ominously, a nuclear explosion. This weeks materials set us up to understand the science behind the Manhattan Project, which we will look at next week.

Readings:

1) Richard Rhodes, The Making of the Atomic Bomb (1986), chapter 9, pp. 233-275.

2) Einstein's letter to FDR

Learning Activities:

1) Video: The Manhattan Project (parts 1 and 2)

2) Video: Peter Barker, Prehistory of Fission Powerpoint

Assignments:

1) Quiz

2) Small group discussion - Albert Einstein's letter

3) Class forum - Lise Meitner, Otto Hahn and the Nobel Prize