Understanding Physics: Fission, Fusion, & Radioactivity (FLEX)

This 4-week course is the 6th and final class in the "Understanding Physics" series. This class will focus on nuclear changes of matter and related technological applications, like nuclear energy. Each week a new lesson will be uploaded, along with a note sheet the students can print to follow along with, and an assignment to practice what they've learned. Lessons will include videos, polls, a collaboration activity for students to share ideas, articles for students to read and refer to, open-ended questions, and lots of pictures! There will be an optional quiz given during the 4th week for students to gauge what they've learned through the course. Upon  parental quest, I will provide grades for assignments completed and the quiz. Successful completion of all 6 "Understanding Physics" courses mean the student has completed an entire high school physics class. 

Here is an outline of the course:
Week 1 - Students will learn to compare and contrast nuclear processes, including fission and fusion. Topics covered will include the life-cycle of a star, formation of black holes, the history of the rumor of cold fusion, the history of the science behind the atomic bomb,  and how fission and fusion are used today, both on Earth and throughout the Universe.

Week 2 - Students will learn about radioactive decay. Topics covered will include differentiating alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi disasters, uses for each type of radiation, and what happens to radioactive waste.

Week 3 - Students will learn about half-life. Topics will include carbon-dating, calculating half-life, and how nuclear energy works within nuclear power plants.

Week 4 - This week will be a review of all former topics covered, and students will be given a quiz to see how much they learned throughout the course.