Atomic Caf Video Questions

I believe the use of atomic bombs was justified in WWII on Hirsohima

and Nagasaki. In my opinion, the Japanese were a proud people that
were not willing to surrender unless they were nearly wiped out. The
atom bombs killed many innocent Japanese, which brought about
feelings of guilt from the American people. However, the use of the
atom bomb showed the militaristic strength of the United States that
scared their enemies as well as their allies. It may not be proven that
the use of the atom bomb at the end of World War II prevented other
wars from occurring out of fear of its use. Due to the increased
firepower available to the United States, the nation could become a
policing force that had the most devastating weapon known to man.
If there was proof that a country sponsored a terrorist attack on the
U.S., alternative methods to nuclear weapons should be used before
deciding to use tactical nuclear weapons. Military technology has
advanced far enough that a nuclear strike is no longer warranted. In
addition, popular focus is more on reducing the amount of collateral
damage, which is the opposite outcome of a nuclear strike. Until more
humane methods of disciplining the groups responsible for the attack,
a nuclear strike is not justified. Nuclear weapons should be a final
resort.
Radiation and Modern Life Questions
There are four types of particles emitted during radioactive processes.
The first is an alpha particle, which is a helium nucleus (2 protons and
2 neutrons). The second is a beta particle, which is an electron. Next is
a photon, which does not have a charge associated with it because it is
a gamma ray. The last is the positron, which is a beta particle with a
positive charge. A positron results when a proton converts to a
neutron.
The most natural radiation comes from radon gas. It is a natural
product of the radioactive decay of uranium. Radon can come from the
ground, walls, and other materials. The Earths crust has a varied
distribution of radon, so exposure will vary depending on the region
that one is in.
Four models of radiation dose vs. effect exist. The first is the linear
hypothesis, which believes that there is no such thing as a radiation
dose with no adverse effects. The hypothesis further states that as the
dose increases, the damaging effects also increase. The second theory
is the threshold effect, which sets a limit of radiation dosage where

anything below the threshold has very little to no net damage to the
body. The hormesis effect shows that low levels of radiation can be
beneficial to us. The final hypothesis, shown by Curve C in Figure 16,
predicts that low levels of radiation dosages are more harmful that
high doses on a per unit basis.