Trinity and Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie

For the last week we have been watching Trinity and Beyond in our Science class as a intention to expand our knowledge of the Nuclear Age bomb advancements after World War II's devastating end after the bombing at Nagasaki and Hiroshima and the events that led up to us being able to use the bombs through air, ocean, and land. A couple of history facts are that in May 1945 the first large devastating bomb was ever dropped. On August 23, 1933 the American/European program called the "Manhattan Project" was started. Los Alumos was the drop site of these bombs made from the Manhattan Project. On May 8th, 1945 Nazi Germany surrenders to the powerful allies now that their leader has succumb to pressure which led to his suicide. But, the war on the Pacific is only halfway through. Tinion Island far from Japan, but still close enough was the base of where the A-bombs that were dropped on Japan were stored. Enola Gay set off from the island to its two drop points, Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Later in the years of testing after the devastation at Operation Crossroads had prevented this. The U.S. now opens Operation Woodwall the first ever deep underwater bombing test. It's power is unimaginable. Before World War II the U.S. looked to the air after land and ocean had shown its power, which led to the development of Cherokee the first air delivered bomb. Lastly, Operation Plumbob was the largest atmospheric test of a Nuclear Bomb ever in the history of man. It caused a world-wide EMP (Electro-Magnetic Pulse) blast. Some scientific facts from the movie are that Plutonium and Uranium were needed for the first Atomic bombs. When the plutonium in the A-bomb implodes that is what causes the Atomic blast. A-bomb can cause temperature spikes, incinerates all nearby life, and can cause temporary blindness when looked at. The bombs that were dropped in Japan were the Little Boy which was a 15 kiloton Uranium bomb that was dropped in Hiroshima and the Fat Man which was a 20 kiloton Plutonium bomb that was dropped in Nagasaki. The Item Bomb was the 1st Speed dropped bomb. The George bomb was the 1st ever Thermonuclear Bomb. The Mike Bomb was the 1st ever "Wet Bomb" which used liquid nitrogen. The Ivy Mike bomb was the 1st ever Hydrogen Bomb which was 5 megatons. Castle Bravo was the largest Thermonuclear bomb and was 15 megatons. Strontium was released from the atmospheric tested bombs and can radiate human bones to cause Leukemia. When a nuclear bomb is fired under ground it can vaporize all near rock into a molten bubble of lava. Some of the first "space" nuclear bombs carrier rockets ran on liquid oxygen. These rockets were called "Redstone Rockets" The movie ended depicting the aggressive tensions of the Korean people and how they have developed Nuclear technology and could possibly use it in any case of war.

Chemistry at ASU

Today we went to ASU to see the science facilities and even use some of the items in them. First we saw an electron microscope which we learned different measurements of weight and that electrons are not coloured at all, but that it was the colour from the light. Next we saw a teacher who showed us how light can refract off certain items. For example we turned on a fan with 3 different colours on three different blades. then turned off the lights and turned on a strobe-like flashlight which at different speeds of flashing showed different things on the fan. Also, I got to ride a hovercraft which actually floated in the air! Then we went to a room with two electric shock machines where it recreated what shocking your friend when you rubbed your feet on a carpet would feel like. Afterwards we went to an air pressure room and learned that there is an outside air pressure and inside air pressure for example every time you breathe in it is exerting outside air pressure to your body. Then we went and lunch and talked to two undergraduates. Lastly, we went to an auditorium and saw a balloon filled with hydrogen explode when a flame was near it.

Polymers:Sodium Silicate and Ethyl Alcohol

State the question: What will sodium silicate and Ethyl Alcohol make as a polymer?

Hypothesis: The polymer will be stronger or weaker because of the amount of sodium silicate and ethyl alcohol.

Materials:
Sodium silicate (water glass) solution, 12 mL
Ethyl Alcohol 3 mL
2 small beakers
Stirring rod
Paper towels

Procedure: Measure out 12 mL of sodium silicate then pour it into one of your small beakers. Now place 3 mL of ethyl alcohol in another small beaker. Then slowly add the alcohol to the sodium silicate. Get your stirring rod and use a slow circular motion until the substance is solid. Now place the polymer into your plam and roll it around until it becomes a ball almost it can still have some bumps. Dispose of as instructed.

Results:




The 1st picture illustrates how the Sodium Silicate and Ethyl Alcohol should look before mixing. The 2nd is how they look when they have been stirred a little bit. The 3rd is the final product of the two

Conclusion:
Well we made a polymer our of our monomers! My hypothesis wasn’t exactly directed to the question thus proved wrong ultimately. This could help because it gives us experience in how to make polymers. When there is at least two monomers and a cross-linking agent you can make a polymer. We had no problem with this lab at all. We could perhaps use this experiment to re-create it with either more or less sodium silicate and/or ethyl alcohol! I would change the amounts of the monomers so we could maybe have a larger polymer when made.