America 1960-1969: Science and Technology Research Article from American Decades

This Study Guide consists of approximately 71 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of America 1960-1969.
Encyclopedia Article

America 1960-1969: Science and Technology Research Article from American Decades

This Study Guide consists of approximately 71 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of America 1960-1969.
This section contains 288 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
Buy the America 1960-1969: Science and Technology Encyclopedia Article

Plutonium.

The study of man-made elements was critical in World War II. There was a need for a radioactive material to use in an atomic weapon, but not for material so radioactive it would disintegrate before the bomb could be made and dropped. The Radiation Laboratory (later the Lawrence Berkeley Lab) at the University of California, Berkeley, succeeded by producing plutonium. With a half-life (the time it takes for half of it to undergo radioactive decay) of twenty-four thousand yearsit allowed plenty of time to make a bomb. Plutonium, element 94 on the periodic table of the elements, was one of ten man-made elements produced by the Radiation Laboratory. The Berkeley based scientists produced all but one of the man-made elements (from 93 to 103). Swedish scientists made element 102, nobelium.

A New Element.

Element 103, lawrencium, was formed in 1961. The Berkeley group took some nickel foil, coated it...

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This section contains 288 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
Buy the America 1960-1969: Science and Technology Encyclopedia Article
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