Suggested Resources

Nuclear Reactions

 

Library Books:

Nuclear Power: Promise or Peris?	Michael Daley	Explores opposing viewpoints on expanding the uses of nuclear power with emphasis on pollution, safety, and waste disposal. 1997.				333.792 DAL
Energy	Alan Silverstein	Discusses the sources and uses of different types of energy, both natural and man-made, including electrical, magnetic, light, heat, sound, and nuclear energy. 1998.				621.04 SIL
Powerhouse: Inside a Nuclear Power Plant	Charlotte Wilcox	An exploration of how a nuclear power plant generates electricity. Other topics covered include the safety issues associated with nuclear power, the problem of nuclear waste, and the future of nuclear power. Illustrated with color photographs. For younger readers but a readable, clear explanation. 1996.				621.48 WIL
The Spirit of Hiroshima: an Introduction to the Atomic Bomb Tragedy	Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum	A history of Hiroshima and an overview of the effects of the atomic bomb on the city and its people. 1999.				952 SPI
Physics Matters	John O. E. Clark, ed.	Vol. 10 Nuclear Physics 2001				R 530 PHY
The New Book of Popular Science		Vol. 3 Chemistry, physics, biology 2000				R 500 NEW

Library Databases:

Access from: Library Home Page  OR
                    QuickLinks drop down menu in the Library Catalog
User names and passwords on the Portal.

ABC-Clio Issues

   A. From the Home Page, click on Explore an Issue then choose:
       Nuclear Power or
       Nuclear  Weapons and Nonproliferation.

    Each of these special reports contain an Overview, links to Individuals & 
    Organizations, a Timeline, Facts & Figures, Current View & Outlook, Primary Sources.
    Primary Sources contains links to video, audio, images and government documents &
    speeches.

    B. From the Home Page, click on Analyze then choose:
        Dropping the Bomb: Hiroshima and Nagasaki

    Follow the menu on the left for a comprehensive discussion including three
    perspectives: dropping the bomb saved lives; the bomb was necessary to end the
    war; dropping the bomb was unjustified. Links to online and print resources.   

    C. Article on Yucca Mountain
 

 ABC-Clio e-Books

    Full text of 600 reference books
    To open Menu, click on Plus sign (+) next to Science, Technology & The
    Environment
 
    A. Environment contains the following e-books:
        Indoor Pollution (section on Radon)
        Nuclear Power: A Reference Handbook (extensive annotated list of websites)
        Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources: A Reference Handbook  (a chapter 
        on problems and controversies including costs, environmental effects, etc.)
 
    B. Technology has one book of interest
        Nuclear Weapons and Nonproliferation: A Reference Handbook

NewsBank
 
    Helpful Hint #1: 
    From the NewsBank homepage click on "NewsBank-Research & Homework Materials".
    This will take you to the search screen.
    Choose "more search options" from the main search page (right hand
    side of the page). Then click on the "in All Text" drop down menu on the far right. If
    you select "in Lead/First Paragraph" or "in Headline/Title" before conducting your
    search, you will find more relevant articles.

    Helpful Hint #2:
    Consider limiting your search to "Magazines" in order to find more substantial
    articles. This will knock out very current news articles that may be of use
    to you so try checking and unchecking the "Magazine" box to compare the results.

    Helpful Hint #3:
    Experiment with the "Reading Level" drop down menu as well.

    Results of search for articles about "Radon" using these hints:
    1. 805 hits with "radon" in All Text and no other boxes checked
    2. 100 hits with "radon" in Headline/Title
    3.     8 hits with "radon" in Headline/Title and only in Magazines
    4.   51 hits with "radon" in Headline/Title and Medium Reading Level
    You get the idea! It matters!

    Articles on the following were found using various combinations of the "hints":
    1. Radon
    2. Radiation Therapy
    3. Nuclear Medicine
    4. Nuclear Power Plants
    5. Yucca Mountain
    6. Dirty Bombs
    7. Hiroshima

  SIRS

    SIRS is a general reference database with thousands of full-text articles from 1600
    domestic and international periodicals.

    The focus is on social, scientific, health, historic, business, economic, political and
    global issues. In short, there is info here on many of the subjects for this assignment.

    Extremely easy to use; results are sorted by magazines, newspapers,  
    graphics, websites, reference so you can choose the format you want to see.  There
    is a complete summary for each article followed by a list of descriptors that will lead
    you to other articles.

    Articles on the following:
    1. Nuclear Energy
    2. Nuclear Weapons
    3. Dirty Bombs
    4. Radon
    5. Yucca Mountain
    6. Radiation Therapy
    7. Hiroshima

KYVL
    
    KYVL has a new look and a new search engine that allows you to search all its 
    databases at one time. 

    After you open the home page, click on the box (upper left) that says Find Books, 
    Articles and More. This will take you to the new, super simple search box. As   
    usual, using Advanced Search Options will yield better results. There is lots here,
    because it searches so many databases, but it can be frustrating to learn to use. Stick
    with it. Call if you need help!
    
    You can also go directly to EBSCOhost from the KYVL search page. EBSCOhost is a
    huge database of magazine and journal articles. You can search by topic or you can  
    search a particular publication. This is one of my favorite features! 

    For example, I easily found an article that Ms. O'Neill recommends called "The Long
    Shadow of Chernobyl." I knew that it appeared in National Geographic, in April, 2006.
    It was easy to find the full text of the article using EBSCOhost.

Discovery Education
       
    Discovery is a treasure trove of videos but I didn't find much for this project
    except on the following topics:
    Hiroshima
    Nuclear Power Plants

    If you need video, by all means take a look.
    To narrow your search, enter your search term and retrieve the results. Then, look
    at the menu on the left, go to the bottom, and choose Grades 9-12.

Selected Websites: 

Atomic Archive
Explores the complex history surrounding the invention of the atomic bomb. Includes a detailed history of the Cold War, biographies of key scientists, a time line, documents, maps, photos, and videos.

Energy Information Administration
Official energy statistics from the U.S. Government plus reports, analyses, forecasts, international data, info on nuclear power plants and radioactivce waste. Essays on "Nuclear Basics 101" and "Nuclear Introduction."

Fifty Years from Trinity
This site provides a rich source of information and links. It begins with the text of a special report written by The Seattle Times commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first atomic explosion, code-named Trinity. The report detailes the history, impact and future of atomic weapons and nuclear power. In addition, it provides supplementary material, interactive activities for discussion and debate, and links to other sites specializing in atomic issues.

Radiation and Health Physics Page
From the University of Michigan

Yucca Mountain
Information from the Environmental Protection Agency

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency-Radon

Hyperphysics - Radon

U.S. Geological Survey - The Geology of Radon

HowStuf Works.com: Radon

Mayo Clinic - Radiation Therapy

The American Experience/Meltdown at Three Mile Island
Web companion to the PBS documentary on America's worst nuclear power accident. Included are a time line, interactive features on nuclear reactors, interviews, profiles of related people, a bibliography, and more.

Time for Nukes
Well-illustrated feature about nuclear power and its dangers. From The Why Files, a science education magazine published online by the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency's official Web site offers information including global status reports, programs, publications, and other information about the peaceful use of nuclear energy, world monitoring activities, and safeguards.

EPA - Clean Energy - How Does Energy Use Affect the Environment
Information about the environmental impact of different power generation sources, such as natural gas, coal, petroleum oil, nuclear energy, solid waste, and hydroelectricity. From the Environmental Protection Agency.

Frontline: Kim's Nuclear Gamble
This PBS 'FRONTLINE' documentary examines the U.S.-North Korean relationship and how it has brought the world to the brink of a nuclear showdown." Viewable online in its entirety, in high-quality video.

Radiation Effects Research Foundation
This foundation, supported by the U.S. and Japanese governments, offers information about radiation's effects on humans, specifically, on the survivors of the atomic bomb attacks on Japan. Covers incidence of cancers, mutations, birth defects, and more.

The National Atomic Museum 
Web site of the National Atomic Museum located on Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, N.M. Offers information on the museum's programs and services. Includes a virtual tour illustrating historical and technical aspects of the nuclear age.
 

Citations:

Most database articles now include a citation which you can copy and paste into your Bibliography. For books, magazine articles and websites which do not contain this information look at the Citation section on the Library webpage. It is located in the Upper and Middle School Library, under Research and Writing.

PS...

Please send links to websites and titles of books or articles that were particularly helpful to you so they can be added to this page.

joffutt@sayreschool.org