For the last few chapters in our text, we have been studying atomic theory and structure and how it has evolved with the development of new technology and different ideas.
For this post, I want you to investigate how the study of atomic theory and structure has been applied to different areas of research or careers. How can the study of something so small be applied to many different areas of research or careers? In your investigation answer the following questions: How does atomic theory or structure relate to this research or career? Does the research or career look at an atom, parts of an atom, or several atoms? If it is a career (profession), why is this job important? What is the purpose of the research or career? How is the research or career interesting to you?
The post is due by Monday, October 15 @ Midnight. Do not wait until the last minute to post. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Have Fun!
Nuclear Physicist
ReplyDeleteAccording to http://education-portal.com/articles/Careers_in_Nuclear_Science_Options_and_Requirements.html, "nuclear physicists study how the particles in an atom's nucleus move around and operate using physical laws and theorems. They typically work in research and can be found in fields such as electronics, energy, aerospace, communications or healthcare equipment. They spend most of their time in laboratories designing practical applications using nuclear physics."
Nuclear Physicist typically work in government agencies, private companies, research labs, and universities. Their jobs rely on government funds or grants to fund their research.
This job is important because it gives us a new way to study atomic energy and how it relates to electronics, different types of energy, aerospace, communications or healthcare equipment.
This is interesting to me because it will be interesting to see how atomic energy will be used in the future to advance the way we communicate and the way businesses run.
Dr. Robert Forrey, a professor at Penn State Berks, was awarded a National Science Foundation Grant of 230,695 dollars for his research "Quantum mechanical studies of hydrogen and helium interactions: applications in astrophysical, ultracold, and industrial, environments." It will be in affect from September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2015. His research has been funded by the Smithsonian Institution, NASA, and Air Products. His research involves interaction of hydrogen with other atoms, chemical reactions involving hydrogen on the surface of metallic clusters, and the formation and dynamics of helium containing van der Waals molecules. It uses quantum mechanical methods to mathematically describe all of the details of the interactions involving hydrogen and helium. The purpose of this research is to model various environments such as stars in the early universe, mechanisms of relevance to industrial processes such as heterogeneous catalysis, and the dynamics of ultracold collisions in magnetic traps. I find it interesting that we can use this research to model stars that were so long ago in the early universe.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bk.psu.edu/34779.htm
ReplyDeleteMy profession is Nuclear Engineer; they create atomic bombs and weapons. Many nuclear engineers work in private and governmental research and development laboratories. Some teach in colleges and universities. Other engineers are employed in nuclear power plants and in factories that make nuclear equipment or weapons. Nuclear Engineers use atoms to react and make an explosion. It’s an important job because it helps protect or country and our allies. This career interests me because I like to mix things and see, smell, or taste the mixtures or reactions. For example, I had left a full coke can outside for 3 months. I decided to see what would happen when I shot with my pellet gun. When I shot the can it exploded.
Recourse: http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/411/Nuclear-Engineer.html
Nuclear Physcians use radioacive materials to diagnose and treat diseases. They use scintigraphy to research and study different diseases. Scintigraphy is the use of radionuclides to produce images of the body's organs. It studies the metabolic and physiologic processes of the body different from x-rays. The imagies are interpreted by a nuclear physcian. It is non invasive, safe and effective. Nuclear Physcians look at many atoms in this case the image is of a group of atoms, organs. Nuclear medicine can detect cancer and early treatment is important. It can also detect and treat thyroid issues. This career detects cancer and provides treatment. This is interesting to me, because this type of medicine helped detect bone cancer in my grandmother.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.snm.org/index.cfm?PageID=984
Thanks to the atomic theory, some scientists are able to study the phenomena known as nuclear fission. Nuclear fission is the ability of an atom to split, or fission. When an atom splits, 100s of fragments of the atom are sent in all directions. When this happens the positive protons refuse to interact with other protons and won't go near them because of the magnetic positive charges won't come close to each other. This gives a charge that scientists in this field are finding out that could be used as another source of energy. It is already being used as an energy source for submarines and other types of surfacing vehicles. This is interesting to me because it shows that atoms can not only make up almost everything on this planet, but they can also be used as an energy source using modern day technology.
ReplyDeletesites used: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/421629/nuclear-fission/48318/Uses-of-fission-reactors-and-fission-products
http://library.thinkquest.org/17940/texts/fission/fission.html
Jobs in Molecular Physics are usually dedicated to the study of molecules - electrons, nuclei, and chemical bonding - made up of a few atoms in the gas phase. This relates to the Atomic Theory because molecules are made up of two or more atoms combining. Different types of spectroscopy, the investigation and measurement of spectra produced when matter interacts with or emits electromagnetic radiation, are the most important experimental methods in this field. Molecular physics jobs overlap with quantum chemistry, physical chemistry, and chemical physics. Jobs in this field are important and interesting because we need to be able to understand molecules, which are the backbones of everyday life, two examples of this being water and carbon.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.physicstoday.org/jobs/career_resources/profiles/atomic_molecular_physics_jobs
Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes used to gain benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. They repress the power of an atom to help solve large problems facing humanity. This job requires a knowledge of chemistry, mechanical engineering, and nuclear safety. They design, develop, and operate nuclear plants to generate power, or they may work on the nuclear fuel cycle. Nuclear engineers have to keep worksites and workers safe from radiation poisoning. The job is important because they need to perform experiments that will provide information about acceptable methods of nuclear material usage and waste disposal. I think this job is interesting because without people working in this field our planet could become very toxic and dangerous to live on.
ReplyDeletehttp://education-portal.com/directory/category/Engineering/Nuclear_Engineering.html
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/science-engineering-careers/Energy_nuclearengineer_c001.shtml#keyfactsinformation
Atomic physics study only one isolated atom and ions, it's energy states, and it's interactions. The main study is the structure of the atom. Atomic physics is important to the start of quantum mechanics. Atomic physicists can use the energy of these atoms to make weapons as well as engery that can be used every day. This career and study was interesting to me because of its complexity.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.physicstoday.org/jobs/career_resources/profiles/atomic_molecular_physics_jobs
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/41764/atomic-physics
Nano-wires are ultra-tiny metal threads. At this small scale of one-billionth of a meter, quantum mechanics has a large effect on nanowires, which can have a length to width ratio of 60 to 1. Nanowires are created either by starting at the atomic level and building up. Another way nanowires can be formed is by wrapping heated sapphire rods into cables, then stretching the cable to nano-thinness. Nano-wires have many applications, including superconductors in microprocessors that allow computers to be smaller and faster. On the contrary to superconductors, nano wires can also be insulators. Nano wires can also be used to make nano-robots that help fight diseases such as cancer. Bioengineers at Harvard has created “cyborg” tissue, which is a hybrid of living cells and electronic components. The scientists took tissues including muscles, blood vessels and neurons from rats in with nanowires. These cells are “half-living” because they cannot function without the electrical components. The scientists with electric components with the use of nanowires lets them control functions of the cell. The atomic theory and structure relates to nanowires because without those atomic level discoveries, scientists would not understand how matter acted on that level. A wide variety of professions exist in nano technology, from medical, computer technology, and physics fields. These careers are important for many different reasons including health, scientific innovations, and in business, such as computer technology, it is competition. Nano wires are interesting to me because of their potential innovations in many different fields even though of their small size, which in fact is the reason for their potential.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ign.com/articles/2012/08/30/harvard-scientists-create-first-cyborg-flesh
http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/how-nanowires-used
http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/how-nanowires-made
http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/how-nanowires-used
Nuclear physicists study the fundimentals of the building blocks of matter, from quarks and gluons, to individual protons and atomic nuclei. Nuclear physics is important because the study of the nucleus is the heart of understanding things that are infinately small and large. For instance, we know that the nucleus is a result of simple interactions between subatomic particles. As these particles form, it makes it possible for our entire universe to exist. But there is still much to learn. In pursuit of this knowledge, phisicists probe nuclei with complex devices called accelerators and gather information from the probes with detector systems, and record and analyze information through advanced computing. They then share these concepts with people such as cosmotologists and astronomers. Pursuing this knowledge leads to benifits that are dificult to predict. Likewise, many outcomes could not be imagined at this time. If the past is any indication, the benifits may be life changing. These benifits could include changes in healthcare, lifestile, and technology.
ReplyDeletehttp://science.energy.gov/np/
Biochemistst use the study of atomic theory and structure to do a variety of beneficial things. Biochemists use these atomic studies to help develop things such as medicine, fertilizers, and food prezervation. Several atoms and their structures are studied by biochemists to help develop effective medicines and pesticides. Medicines that are produced thanks to the research done by biochemists such as peroxide are used to treat wounds, fight infections, and help cure certain illnesses around the world. The study of biochenistry is important because it uses atomic theory and structure to analyze and produce solutions and substances that are beneficial to humans. This research is interesting because without biochemistry and the use of research regarding atoms the adcancement of much needed medicines, pesticides and methods of food preservation would be far less effective and sophisticated as they are today.
ReplyDeletehttp://science.energy.gov/bes/csgb/research-areas/photochemistry-and-biochemistry/
Concerning war, nuclear scientist have a very big job dealing with Nuclear bombs. Atoms are the building blocks of matter. You would think you cannot make anything smaller, but you can divide these atoms. When a nucleus fissions, it splits into several smaller fragments. These fission products are about equal to half the original mass. Two or three neutrons are also emitted. When this happens it sets off a chain reaction that deals with the isoptopes uranium-235 and plutonium-239.If the mass of the fissionable material exceeds the critical mass, which is a few pounds, the chain reaction multiplies rapidly into an uncontrollable release of energy. An atomic bomb is triggered by bringing together very quickly two subcritical masses of fissionable material, the combined mass exceeding the critical mass. An atomic bomb explosion produces, in addition to the shock wave, an intense neutron and gamma radiation, both of which are very damaging to living tissue. The atomic theory deals with this study because its dividing atoms. This career looks at isotopes and atoms. It looks further into the atom and what happens through nuclear fission. This job is important because it keeps our country very safe. Almost every major country has nuclear bombs, and these bombs are what help us with war. Although there is debate on wether we should use them because of the damage it caused to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The purpose of researching A-bombs is to further explain what happens inside the atom when the explosion takes place. I thought this was intresting because an explosion of that magnitude must have an intresting make up behind it, and it does. www.atomicarchive.com/Fission/Fission1.shtml
ReplyDeletehttp://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/atomic_bomb.aspx
Crystallography is the study of both atomic and molecular structure. It looks at both an individual atom and a single molecule. It is important because crystallographers study the atomis structure of anything that can form a solid. It is interesting to me because when it first started out, it was the study of crystals, such as quartz.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amercrystalassn.org/content/pages/main-careers
A career I find interesting in the study of atomic structure is Crystallography. Crystallographers study the atomic architecture of any material that can form an orderly solid. This can be anything from diamonds to viruses. Crystallographers are interested in knowing how atoms in a material are arranged in order to understand the relationship between atomic structure and properties of these materials. They work in fields such as Chemistry, Geology, Biology, and Physics. This type of career is important because of the discoveries that are being made. For example, Crystallographers have recently discovered how proteins recognize the shape of DNA to turn genes on and off. With this information, scientists could design drugs to control blood pressure, inhibit the growth of the AIDS virus, or cure the common cold.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amercrystalassn.org/content/pages/main-careers
Nuclear engineering is very important in careers today. The main purpose for nuclear engineering has changed over the years from, the extraction of energy from fission into reactors to, using it for one-fifth of the electrical power around the world. It has been used for x-rays. It is used largely in the medical field. It has supplied many people with jobs. Without nuclear engineering our daily life would be different. We would have to find another way to supply people elctricity or just to see if someone has a broken bone. This intrests me because it is a part of everyday life.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.min.uc.edu/nuclear/program-overview-1
Nuclear engineers study the atom as a whole but, the mainly focus on the nucleus. Nuclear engineers study things like nuclear fission. which is the separation of atoms. This information is very useful to the creation of atomic bombs, or it could be used to make stable clean energy for the world. More in depth nuclear fission is when an atom splits into two atoms and emits energy. the energy emitted is called gamma radiation. Which is basically made up of high energy photons. Nuclear engineers study this to help make things (as stated before) like clean unlimited energy or power plants. They also work very hard with trying to find the easiest and safest way of disposing nuclear waste. Because, nuclear waste is highly toxic and very difficult to get rid of, nuclear engineers have to think about this when doing large experiments with nuclear energy. another thing they do is the designing of atomic bombs or fission bombs. n a fission bomb, the fuel must be kept in separate subcritical masses, which will not support fission, to prevent premature detonation. One thing they have to worry about is how to eventually have all the atoms to collide at exactly the right time. I thought this was interesting because almost every country has atomic bombs!
ReplyDeletehttp://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-power2.htm
http://dot-job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/NUCLEAR-ENGINEER.cfm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/nuclear-bomb4.htm
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ReplyDeleteThe U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that residential households use as much as 1,419 billion killowat hours of electricity per year. There is a direct connection between all this electricity and atoms. Electricity is the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. When electrons jump around between atoms, they sometimes encounter some resistance from other particles. This resistance causes friction. This friction then creates heat. This is why some larger electrical appliances, usually computers, have cooling fans. These fans redistribute the heat caused by friction. Professionals who work with electricity apply their knowledge of the atomic structure daily. For example, electricians insulate the electrical wires that are used in homes in plastic so the heat does not transfer out of the wires and into surrounding materials. If this happens, a fire may be started. Engineers also figure out how large an appliance needs to be based on how much electricity it will use. If an appliance needs a lot of electricity, the engineers design the appliance with larger wires and a thicker case overall since a small wire or case would melt away from the heat that is generated from all the atomic activity. I found this interesting because I want to be a mechanical engineer.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ehow.com/about_3162601_electricity-relate-atoms
Atomic theory is the idea that matter is made up of small units called atoms. A Greek philosopher named Democritus came up with the idea around 500 BC. In 1897, the British scientist J.J. Thomson discovered that atoms are made up of smaller particles. Today atomic theory refers to matter being made up of indivisible units. Exceptions include plasmas such as fire, radioactive materials, and many more. It wasn't until 1803, that the English chemist John Dalton revived the old idea of atomic theory, and used it to solve various problems that chemists were trying to solve at the time. Rather than any one experiment leading to the idea, it emerged from analysis of many experiments involving the properties of gases and chemical reactions. His atomic theory was popularized and confirmed experimentally over the course of the early 19th century.
ReplyDelete1http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-atomic-theory.htm#9th century.
Atoms are particles of elements that can't be broken down further without changing the chemical nature of the substance. For example, if you have 1 ton, 1 gram or 1 atom of oxygen, all of these units have the same properties. It's possible to break down the atom of oxygen into smaller particles but when this happens, the atom looses its chemical properties. Atoms are made up of 3 types of particles. They are electrons, protons,and neutrons. These particles have different properties. Electrons are tiny particles that have a negative electrical charge. Protons are much larger and heavier than electrons and have a positive charge. Neutrons are large and heavy like protons but they have no electrical charge. Each atom is made up of a combination of these particles.
ReplyDeletehttp://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~acarpi/NSC/3-atoms.htm
Nuclear scientists work to conduct research on the minutest of fundamental particles found inside and around atomic nuclei. A nuclear scientist conducts experiments, makes observations, and develops mathematical formulas to contribute to the collective knowledge of particle physics and nuclear chemistry. Professionals often specialize in a certain area of study, such as radioactivity, decay, fusion, or atomic interactions. This job is important because it is vital that we understand the atom and how the atom reacts to things such as fusion and fission.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-nuclear-scientist-do.htm#
Over the past decade america has struggled with an energy crises. Gas prices are at record highs each year, and america is producing manybout ways to solve this problem. On alternative to the energy problem is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is created by the fission of two atoms together, the energy produced is so great that the heat turns the generator and produces electricity. I. The near future there will be a high demand in nuclear physicist, because we will have to find a solution to this energy crisis. The u.s. spends about 52billion just in producing weapons and nuclear defense. All of the nuclear plants in america make about 470million dollars last year by 104 different plants.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.duke-energy.com/about-energy/generating-electricity/nuclear-how.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_the_United_States
http://carnegieendowment.org/2009/01/12/how-52-billion-on-nuclear-security-is-spent/87g
http://www.nei.org/resourcesandstats/documentlibrary/reliableandaffordableenergy/factsheet/nuclearpowerplantcontributions
Nuclear energy plays a huge role as an powerful energy source that is created by splitting or dividing an atom. More than 100 plants are opperation in the United States alone and accounts for about 20% of the United States' energy. Nuclear energy is a a good source of power, but it is not used very often by power companies due to its dangerous way of creating energy. The process of creating energy started early by using fission to separate a Uranium atom. This process is not nonrenewable energy source. The power plants for nuclear energy release a clean emission that is not harmful to the environment. The power plants must shut down every 18 to 24 months to replace the Uranium fuel cell which lost all of its energy in the fission process.The emissions are clean; however, the spent Uranium is radioactive and disposed of properly. The radioactive by-products must be handled correctly, or radioactive material may get into the atomosphere or public to cause disasterous effects and mutations. The scientists and engineers look at and observe he atom's specific parts such as the nucleus, electron cloud, and other parts of the atom when it is splitting. The atomic theory is used to identify properties of the atom to expect what will happen when fission takes place. Without this resource the United States would lose a major energy source that can be vital in certain situations.THe purpose of this researh is to create power for the country and its population. I like this subject because it is a vital part and it is needed by many people.
ReplyDeletesource: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/nuclear.html
scientest use the atomic theory for for many diffrent things. one is accelertors these race in straitlines or in diffet diameter. they use atomic theory to find kinetic motion which is justfast moving neutrons. they also use the atomic theory to run a turbine which makes energy but at a much lovwer cost then convential way of makeing energy so the atomic theory can be used for many things and to help use in modern day activites.
ReplyDeleteMy profession is a nuclear engineer they are concerned with nuclear fission and fusion of atomic nuclei. It interacts with and maintenances systems and components like nuclear reactors,nuclear power plants, or nuclear weapons. Nuclear engineers work with nuclear fission which is the disintegration of a susceptible fissile or an atoms nucleus into two different smaller element particles including neutrons. The united states gets about 19 percent of its electricity from nuclear power. Nuclear engineers help to make medicines and diagnostic capability also treatment options. Nuclear engineering is interesting to me because it can belp us in alot of ways with the nuclear medicines but can also be very dangerous with the nuclear weapons.
ReplyDeleteEven though the ancient Greeks correctly theorized that everything was made up of simple particles, which they called atoms, it wasn't until the beginning of the 20th century that scientists realized the atom could be split. Nuclear physicists such as Britain's Joseph John Thomson mapped out the atom's elementary building blocks and paved the way for the discovery of nuclear fission—the process that transformed the atom into a new and powerful source of energy. Today atomic energy generates clean, low-cost electricity, powers some of the world's largest ships, and assists in the development of the latest health care techniques.
ReplyDeleteFor careers in plasma physics, many job opportunities are present, in careers such as engineering and physics. Artificially produced plasma's are found in plasma displays for TVs and computers, as well as fluorescent lamps and neon signs. A plasma is a partially ionized gas in which a certain proportion of electrons are free rather than being bound to an atom or molecule. A plasma has many different properties than just a solid, liquid, or gas, and is considered a distinct type of matter. A researcher of a plasma would look at the different parts of an atom rather than the whole itself. A career in plasma physics requires learning about the fourth state of matter. This career interests me because I had no idea there was a fourth state of matter.
ReplyDeletehttp://m.physicstoday.org/jobs/career_resources/profiles/plasma_physics_jobs
Crystallography is the study of atomic and molecular structure. Crystallographers want to know how the atoms in a material are arranged in order to understand the relationship between atomic structure and properties of these materials. They work in many disciplines, including chemistry, geology, biology, materials science, metallurgy and physics. Crystallographers study diverse substances, from living cells to superconductors, from protein molecules to ceramics. Crystallography can give the answer to many unsure related questions. From global folds to atomic bonding,crystallography helps aid questions related to those categories and much more. http://www.ruppweb.org/xray/101index.html
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