OUR ATOMIC WORLD by C. Jackson Craven THE STORY OF ATOMIC ENERGY U.S. ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Division of Technical Information _Understanding the Atom Series_ The Understanding the Atom Series Nuclear energy is playing a vital role in the life of every man, woman, and child in the United States today. In the years ahead it will affect increasingly all the peoples of the earth. It is essential that all Americans gain an understanding of this vital force if they are to discharge thoughtfully their responsibilities as citizens and if they are to realize fully the myriad benefits that nuclear energy offers them. The United States Atomic Energy Commission provides this booklet to help you achieve such understanding. {Edward J. Brunenkant} Edward J. Brunenkant, Director Division of Technical Information UNITED STATES ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION Dr. Glenn T. Seaborg, Chairman James T. Ramey Wilfrid E. Johnson Dr. Theos J. Thompson Dr. Clarence E. Larson 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 SUGGESTED REFERENCES 35