The early work by Fermi and others was presented as an introduction into nuclear fission. The process of bombarding a uranium nucleus by a neutron was shown, and the reason why this caused the electric force of repulsion in the nucleus to overcome the nuclear strong force shown in a diagram. The equation for the fission of U-235 was written, showing the products formed and the formation of 3 additional neutrons released, which then bombarded 3 additional U-235, starting a chain reaction.

The concept of binding energy, its definition and derivation was viewed, along with the calculation of energy released by the mass defect. Nuclear fusion was presented, with an explanation of the temperatures needed to accomplish this nuclear reaction, and how they are reached.

Alpha, beta, and gamma emission was reviewed and expanded upon. A series of alpha emission transmutations along with a series of beta emission transmutations was visualized and the products listed. Radioactive isotopes and their use as tracers and in medicine was presented, with examples.

Reinforce alpha decay using a short video depicting the decay of the nucleus, along with the method used to write the equation. Discuss beta particles and how they are formed. Discuss beta decay, show examples of beta decay and present a few beta decay problems to write.

View and discuss an introduction into radioactivity and radioactive decay.Define both with examples. Discuss Rutherford's early work which resulted in the discovery of 3 different kinds of radiation, alpha, beta, and gamma rays. Indicate the symbols for each and the penetrating power of each. Start with alpha decay, what an alpha particle is, how to symbolize it for reactions, and the general formula for determining the isotope formed when a substance emits an alpha particle. Use a few examples to reinforce the concept.

Discuss how matter at rest has "rest energy", which is released when mass disappears. Equate resting energy to potential energy in Newtonian physics. Using E=MC^2 show how rest energy is related to mass. Discuss how in nuclear decay, the whole is slightly less in mass than the sum of its parts, due to released energy. Show that work must be done to overcome the nuclear strong force when a nucleus decays.

Fissionable uranium 235 only exists in about 0.7% of a uranium sample. The U-235 is needed for nuclear reactors and nuclear weapons. The U-235 is extracted from a mixture of uranium by a process of uranium enrichment. This process involves a physical separation of U-235 from a gaseous uranium compound by gaseous diffusion. The process of gaseous diffusion was explained, along with separation by centrifugation.

Discuss and review binding energy and the nuclear strong force. Show how to indicate an element's nucleus using the symbol and atomic mass and atomic number in specific locations around the symbol. Taking iron 56 as a stable atom, indicate that atoms with atomic mass below 56, when the nucleus reacts, will form atoms with atomic mass closer to 56, while atoms above 56 will react to form nuclei also closer to 56. Show how to determine the number of neutrons from the mass and number. Discuss particle acceleration as a method of producing heavier nuclei from lighter ones. Relate how when more protons are present in an atom, more neutrons are needed to maintain stability.

What to do with the nuclear waste produced by nuclear reactors. To answer this question, the transmutation of uranium 235 into barium and krypton was again shown. The stability of uranium nuclei and the nuclei of the barium an krypton was shown to be a function of the ratio of neutrons to protons. Stability decreased in the high weight nuclei as the ration increased toward or above 1.5 to 1. In the light nuclei formed, the ratio was close to 1.5:1, making them unstable and radioactive. A stable medium weight nuclei ratio was about 1:1 or slightly above. These radioactive nuclear waste products must be stored for hundreds of thousands of years. A video was used showing how some countries are burying the waste in deep tunnels lined with special clay rock to absorb any radiation.
The transmutation of uranium 238 into the poison plutonium was also shown through a series of steps from uranium to plutonium.

Show how a chain reaction occurs and define it. Explain critical mass, and why a chain reaction will not occur with a sub-critical mass. Discuss how uranium enrichment is done so that the 0.7% of uranium 235 can be extracted from a sample of uranium, which is mostly U-238. Introduce the nuclear reactor and how it works to produce steam to turn the turbine which turns the generator for electricity. Indicate the main parts like fuel rods, control rods, moderator, and cooling towers.