Splitting+the+Atom

Did you every hear the old saying, "dynamite comes in small packages?" View this [|activity] and see just how true this statement is!

1. View the video, "Fat Man and Little Boy."

2. The creation of the atom bomb is a scientific accomplishment, entailing many years of scientific study and involving many different scientific minds. Scientific discoveries, particularly those that include the potential for destruction of life, human and otherwise, raise [|ethical] concerns.

a. Review the [|history and individuals of the Atomic Age.]

b. The Manhattan Project is part of our Tennessee history. Read about [|our part in this historical effort]. Which bomb did the Tennessee facility work toward, Fat Man or Little Boy? What radioactive element was used for this bomb? What radioactive element was used for the other bomb?

c. Answer these questions regarding the ethics of the Manhattan Project. >  a. **The Golden Rule ("In every situation, act toward others in the same way that you would want others to act toward you.") There are other ways to say it: "How would I like it if someone did that to me?" Then there is the traditional formulation: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you:);** ** c. The Rule of Universality (How would it be if everyone did it?) ** > >
 * Question: Why is acting ethically an important value?
 *  Comment on Ethical Testing: Experience has shown that if we apply the following ethical tests (a, b, and c below) to our actions we'll know how a proposed action will affect our relations with others.
 * b. Accepted general principles of ethical conduct, for example, the Ten Commandments or the [|Six Pillars of Character].**
 *  Question: Analyze the ethical decisions made by General Grove, Dr. Robert Oppenheimer, and Michael Merryman using the **three ethical tests** above.
 * Question: General Grove believed that "the Lord was on our side." Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer.
 *  Question: Now that we have cruise missiles that can take out a particular address and the entire world knows the power of nuclear weapons, is there any excuse for using a nuclear weapon on any country?
 *  Question: Which elements of the Responsibility Pillar of Character were applied by characters in this film? Give an example of each and explain why.

After you have completed the above activities, you may view some [|pictures from the dropping of the bombs] on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.