The Understanding the Atom Series

Nuclear energy is playing a vital role in the life of everyman, woman, and child in the United States today. In theyears ahead it will affect increasingly all the peoples of theearth. It is essential that all Americans gain an understandingof this vital force if they are to discharge thoughtfully theirresponsibilities as citizens and if they are to realize fully themyriad benefits that nuclear energy offers them.

The United States Atomic Energy Commission providesthis booklet to help you achieve such understanding.

Edward J. Brunenkant, Director
Division of Technical Information

OUR ATOMIC WORLD

by C. Jackson Craven

CONTENTS

THE GREEKS WERE CURIOUS ABOUT MATTER 1

THE ATOMIC THEORY IS CONFIRMED 2

CATHODE RAYS SHOW ATOMS CONTAIN SMALLER PARTS 3

RADIOACTIVE ATOMS DISCOVERED 5

RUTHERFORD FINDS THE ATOMIC NUCLEUS 6

THE PROTON IS RECOGNIZED 8

ISOTOPES ARE DISCOVERED 9

THE ALCHEMISTS’ DREAM COMES TRUE 10

SOME PARTICLES HAVE NO ELECTRIC CHARGE 13

MATTER IS ENERGY; ENERGY IS MATTER 14

NUCLEI CONTAIN ENERGY 15

CHRONOLOGY 18

FISSION IS EXPLAINED 20

THE FISSION BOMB IS EXPLODED 23

NUCLEAR ENERGY IS NEEDED FOR THE FUTURE 25

FUSION HAS POTENTIAL 26

ISOTOPES HAVE MANY USES 29

RADIOISOTOPES AT WORK 30

THE ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION 31

TOWARD AN INTERNATIONAL ATOM 33

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