Begin to formulate your thoughts as we take a brief look at the most important discovery in nuclear science: the making of the atomic bomb. In 1943, this project was named the "Manhattan Project" and American scientists gathered in three locations to research, build, and create the world's first nuclear weapon. Please review The Manhattan Project in order to gain historical and scientific context for the time.
The atomic bomb brought an end to World War II and its immense tragedies. In many ways, the scientists involved with the Manhattan Project were national heroes. Through their discoveries, they contributed to ending a war that saw enormous loss of life, particularly – for Americans – at Pearl Harbor and in the Bataan Death March.
Others feel these scientists ignored the ethical implications of creating a weapon of such mass destruction and should bear much of the responsibility in creating such a destructive weapon.
Please watch the video below and read the quote from Richard Feynman:
If you experience difficulty with the embedded video, you can directly access the Post-War Depression and Fatalism video segment (1:36).
Richard Feynman on the Manhattan Project
Richard Feynman, one of America's most brilliant and articulate physicists, gave an interview in 1959 where he was asked directly about the bomb. Part of his response is below:
"Now, with regard to our own things as human beings, naturallyI myself, for exampleworked on the bomb during the war. Now how do I feel about that? I have a philosophy that it doesn't do any good to go and make regrets about what you did before but to try to remember how you made the decision at the time. if the scientists in Germany could have developed this thing, then we would be helpless, and I think it would be the end of the civilization at that time. I don't know how long the civilization is going to last anyway. So the main reason why I did work on it at the time was because I was afraid that the Germans would do it first, and I felt a responsibility to society to develop this thing to maintain our position in the war."
From the online blog Nuclear Secrecy
Instructions
For the below, make sure to CLAIM both your example and isotope putting that in the Subject heading of your post. And then return to the same thread with your summary information.
Since 1943 the use of nuclear power/energy/technology has come a long way, from nuclear power plants to spacecraft that use and rely on nuclear energy to nuclear medicine. (Although, for this topic, please don't report on nuclear medicine.)
Find a specific example of where nuclear power/energy/technology is being used and write a 75-100 minimum word summary and telling us about your example. Make sure to include the specific element information.
State the Isotope name.
When was it discovered?
What is the half-life?
What is the chemical reaction?
How does it decay? (for example, "it decays with the emission of an alpha-particle")
Include what nuclear processes are being used and how it might be a benefit to man-kind or a danger.
Also include information about any controversies that may surround your example, along with your own opinion about it.
Be sure to include all reputable references.
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