Plasma and NGSS

K. Weather and Climate - Establish that the Sun is hot and glows (emits its own light). Discuss lightnings as a form of severe weather. Make the observation that lightnings are also hot and glow. Conclude that similarities between the Sun and lightnings suggest that they are made of the same stuff.

1. Waves: Light and Sound: PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation - Objects can be seen if they emit their own light  or if they are illuminated by light . Use the Sun as an example of an object that emits its own lights and the Moon as an example of an object that glows because it is illuminated by the Sun.  Conclude that these differences between the Sun and the Moon suggest that they are made of different stuff.

1. Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles: ESS1.A: The Universe and its Stars - Continue the discussion of objects that emit their own light (Sun and stars) and objects that glow because they are illuminated (Moon and the planets in the Solar System). Confirm the conclusion that these two groups of objects are made of different stuff.

2. Structure and Properties of Matter - What we called "stuff " in K-1 is now called "matter". Four different kinds of matter exist: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma.

• The state of matter depends on temperature and energy. For example, a solid ice cube turns into liquid water when heated; liquid water turns into gas when heated. When gas in the air is heated a lot, it turns into plasma: this is what lightnings are. Sometimes, the gas can be cold but it can have a lot of energy, which again turns it into plasma: this is what northern lights are. 

• Matter can be described and classified by its observable properties. We saw in K-1 that lightnings, the Sun, and other stars have the common properties of being hot and emitting their own light. Conclusion: all of them are made of the same type of matter, which is called plasma.

3. Forces and Interactions:PS2.B: Types of Interactions - Electric and magnetic forces between a pair of objects do not require that the objects be in contact, i.e., these forces act at a distance. The forth state of matter, called plasma, responds to electric and magnetic fields, which makes it very different from the other three states of matter introduced in 2nd grade. Plasmas can also give off their own electric and magnetic fields. We can conclude that if two objects are made of plasma, they will interact with forces that act at a distance.

3. Weather and Climate - Scientists record patterns of the weather across different times and areas so that they can make predictions about what kind of weather might happen next. Some plasma scientists study the patterns of the Sun to determine its effects on Earth's conditions. This is called space weather and it describes how conditions change in the Solar System and in the space around the Earth, for example, due to patterns of the Sun.

4. Energy: PS3.C: Relationship Between Energy and Forces -  When objects collide, the contact forces transfer energy so as to change the objects’ motions. Particles in plasma move very fast because they have a lot of energy.  Sometimes, when fast particles collide, they can merge (or fuse together) to form new particles. A lot of energy is produced when particles fuse together. This process is called fusion. The Sun produces its own energy through the process of fusion. The Sun is a natural source of energy.

Limitation: The concept that matter consist of  particles may not have been introduced at this stage. 

5. Structure and Properties of Matter - Matter of any type can be subdivided into particles that are too small to see, but even then the matter still exists and can be detected by other means. Plasma is a type of matter made of particles that can interact both by colliding, but also at a distance. These particles, called ions and electrons, have electric charge.

Note: Now that particles are introduced, the concept of energy production in fusion processes (suggested for 4th grade) can be (re-)introduced here.

5. Space Systems: Stars and the Solar System - The gravitational force of Earth acting on an object near Earth’s surface pulls that object toward the planet’s center. Similarly, the strong gravitational force of the Sun pulls planets, including the Earth, in an orbit around it. All stars, like our Sun, are made of plasma, and generate their energy through fusion of particles. Strong gravitational pull causes a very high pressure at the center of the Sun, which makes its plasma particles to fuse. This process, called fusion, releases energy and light. This is why the Sun is hot and emits its own light.

MS. Structure and Properties of Matter

PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter: Substances are made from different types of atoms, which combine with one another in various ways. Atoms are made of positively charged core, called nucleus, surrounded by negatively charged particles, called electrons. 

• Atoms in solids, liquids, or gases have equal amount of positive and negative charge, which is why their total charge is zero. When an atom has excess positive (or negative) charge by gaining (or losing) negative electrons, it is called a positively (or negatively) charged ion. Plasmas are made of ions and electrons.

• Gases and liquids are made of molecules or inert atoms that are moving about relative to each other. Atoms or molecules in a gas are widely spaced except when they happen to collide. Much like atoms in gases, ions and electrons in plasmas move relative to each other and are widely spaced except when they collide, but they also interact with each other at a distance through electric forces.

Limitation: The concept that atopms are made of nucleus and electrons may not have been introduced at this point. The concept of positive and negative charges should be introduced in "Forces and Interactions" prior to discussing ions and electrons.

PS1.B: Chemical Reactions: In a chemical process, the atoms that make up the original substances are regrouped into different molecules, and these new substances have different properties from those of the reactants. 

• There is another type of reactions, called atomic or nuclear, where the atoms that make up the original substances can fuse together or fall apart to produce new atoms. The process where large atoms fuse together to form new atoms is called nuclear fusion, while the process where atoms fall apart to produce new atoms is called nuclear fission. Energy is released during both fusion and fission.

MS.Forces and Interactions

PS2.B: Types of Interactions: Electric and magnetic (electromagnetic) forces can be attractive or repulsive, and their sizes depend on the magnitudes of the charges, currents, or magnetic strengths involved and on the distances between the interacting objects. 

• Unlike atoms and molecules in gases, ions and electrons in plasma interact with each other, not only by collisions, but also at a distance through electric forces.

• Forces that act at a distance (electric, magnetic, and gravitational) can be explained by fields that extend through space and can be mapped by their effect on a test object (a charged object, or a ball, respectively).  Ions and electrons are particles that have uncompensated (positive or negative) charge. Such particles can be moved by electric and magnetic forces. This is why plasmas, which are made of inons and electrons, can "feel" electric and magnetic fields extending through space.

MS.Energy: PS3A: Definitions of Energy - Motion energy is properly called kinetic energy; it is proportional to the mass of the moving object and grows with the square of its speed.  A system of objects may also contain stored (potential) energy, depending on their relative positions.

• For example, potential energy is stored in the chemical bonds that hold atoms in molecules, while the motion of individual atoms or molecules give rise to their kinetic energy. When the chemical bons between atoms in molecules break, that potential energy is released.

• Another type of potential energy is stored in the bonds that hold the nucleaus of an atom together. When the atomic nuceus breaks apart in a process called nuclear fission, the potential energy from these bonds is released. Nuclear power plants produce energy using the principle of nuclear fission. 

• When two atomic nuclei fuse together to form one larger nucleus in a process called nuclear fusion, the bonds of the smaller nuclei need to break, which also releases large quantities of energy. Fusion scientists are currently working on designing and building power plants that will use the principle of nuclear fusion to produce energy. 

MS.Space Systems

ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars: Earth and its solar system are part of the Milky Way galaxy, which is one of many galaxies in the Universe. The Sun is a star. Like all stars in all galaxies in the Universe, the Sun is made of plasma gas. In fact, scientists have calculated that 99.999% of all visible matter in the Universe is in the plasma state. 

ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: The solar system appears to have formed from a disk of dust and gas, drawn together by gravity.  Too be precise, the gas is in the plasma state.  This disk of dust and plasma gas is one example of what is called a dusty plasma.

MS.Weather and Climate

ESS3.D: Global Climate Change: Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities.  

• Instead of obtaining energy by burning fossil fuels, we can produce energy by breaking bonds in the nuclei of atoms through processes like nuclear fission and fusion. Nuclear fission requires using heavy atoms, such as enriched uranium, that are rare on Earth. In contrast, nuclear fusion requires light atoms, such as hydrogen, which is abundent on Earth, which makes it an attractive option for producing energy. 

HS. Structure and Properties of Matter

PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter: Each atom has a charged substructure consisting of a nucleus, which is made of protons and neutrons, surrounded by electrons. When an atom looses (gains) electrons, it becomes positively (negatively) charged and is called positively (negatively) charged ion.

• The periodic table orders elements horizontally by the number of protons in the atom’s nucleus and places those with similar chemical properties in columns. The repeating patterns of this table reflect patterns of outer electron states. The lighter elements in the periodic table can fuse together to form heavier elements during a process called nuclear fusion. During this process large amount of energy is released. For example, hydrogen atoms in the core of the Sun fuse together to form helium atoms, which is how the sun releases energy.

PS1.C: Nuclear Processes - Nuclear processes, including fusion, fission, and radioactive decays of unstable nuclei, involve release or absorption of energy. The total number of neutrons plus protons does not change in any nuclear process. Nuclear fission is the process used to produce energy in modern-day nuclear power plants. Currently, scientists are working on building the next generation of power plants, where nuclear fusion will be used to produce energy.

HS. Chemical Reactions

PS1.A: Structure and Properties of Matter - A stable molecule has less energy than the same set of atoms separated; one must provide at least this energy in order to take the molecule apart. Similarly, in a nuclear fusion reaction, where two lighter atoms fuse to form one heavier atom, the heavier atom has less energy than the lighter atoms separately. This is why energy is released when the lighter atoms fuse into a heavier one.

HS.Forces and Interactions

PS2.B: Types of Interactions - Newton’s law of universal gravitation and Coulomb’s law provide the mathematical models to describe and predict the effects of gravitational and electrostatic forces between distant objects.

• Forces at a distance are explained by fields (gravitational, electric, and magnetic) permeating space that can transfer energy through space. Magnets or electric currents cause magnetic fields; electric charges or changing magnetic fields cause electric fields.

• The plasma state of matter consists of particles (ions and electrons) which have uncompensated electric charge. Charged particles within a plasma cause their own electric and magnetic fields and interact with each other at a distance via electromagnetic forces. If external electric or magnetic field is applied to a plasma, the charged particles within the plasma follow the direction of these fields. This is how plasmas can be confined within fixed volume in space (for example, inside a laboratory machine).

• A tokamak is a machine that uses external magnetic fields to confine  the charged plasma particles in a donut shape volume, called a torus. Tokamaks are one possible candidate machine that can be used in future fusion power plants. 

HS. Energy

PS3.A: Definitions of Energy - Energy is a quantitative property of a system that depends on the motion and interactions of matter and radiation within that system. That there is a single quantity called energy is due to the fact that a system’s total energy is conserved, even as, within the system, energy is continually transferred from one object to another and between its various possible forms.

• At the macroscopic scale, energy manifests itself in multiple ways, such as in motion, sound, light, and thermal energy.

• At the microscopic scale,  all of the different manifestations of energy can be modeled as a combination of energy associated with the motion of particles (kinetic energy) and energy associated with the configuration or relative position of the particles (potential energy). In some cases the relative position energy can be thought of as stored in fields (which mediate interactions between particles). This last concept includes radiation, a phenomenon in which energy stored in fields moves across space.

• -->Talk about plasma confinement, energy storage, and radiation losses in fusion devices.

PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer -  Conservation of energy means that the total change of energy in any system is always equal to the total energy transferred into or out of the system.

• Energy cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be transported from one place to another and transferred between systems. -->Talk about energy transport and storage.

• Mathematical expressions, which quantify how the stored energy in a system depends on its configuration (e.g. relative positions of charged particles, compression of a spring) and how kinetic energy depends on mass and speed, allow the concept of conservation of energy to be used to predict and describe system behavior.

•  The availability of energy limits what can occur in any system. -->Talk about amount of input energy needed to start a fusion reaction + explan how the energy is conserved in "energy production" processes, like fusion --> develop high-school activity

• Uncontrolled systems always evolve toward more stable states—that is, toward more uniform energy distribution (e.g., water flows downhill, objects hotter than their surrounding environment cool down). When charged particles within a region of a plasma are located much closer than the particles within neighboring regions, the energy distribution within the plasma is not uniform. In this case, electric field arises between the dense and less dense regions, causing the particles to move until energy is distribured evenly across all regions.

PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes - Although energy cannot be destroyed, it can be converted to less useful forms—for example, to thermal energy in the surrounding environment. -->Talk about radiation losses in fusion devices

PS3.D: Energy in Chemical Processes and Everyday Life - Nuclear Fusion processes in the center of the sun release the energy that ultimately reaches Earth as radiation.

PS4.B Electromagnetic Radiation -  Atoms of each element emit and absorb characteristic frequencies of light. These characteristics allow identification of the presence of an element, even in microscopic quantities.

HS. Waves and Electromagnetic Radiation

PS4.B: Electromagnetic Radiation - When light or longer wavelength electromagnetic radiation is absorbed in matter, it is generally converted into thermal energy (heat). Shorter wavelength electromagnetic radiation (ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays) can ionize atoms and cause damage to living cells. -->Talk about waves/radiation in fusion devices

HS. Earth and Space Sciences

ESS1.A: The Universe and Its Stars -  The star called the sun is changing and will burn out over a lifespan of approximately 10 billion years.

• The study of stars’ light spectra and brightness is used to identify compositional elements of stars, their movements, and their distances from Earth.

• Other than the hydrogen and helium formed at the time of the Big Bang, nuclear fusion within stars produces all atomic nuclei lighter than and including iron, and the process releases electromagnetic energy. Heavier elements are produced when certain massive stars achieve a supernova stage and explode.

HS. History of Earth

ESS1.C: The History of Planet Earth - Although active geologic processes, such as plate tectonics and erosion, have destroyed or altered most of the very early rock record on Earth, other objects in the solar system, such as lunar rocks, asteroids, and meteorites, have changed little over billions of years. Studying these objects can provide information about Earth’s formation and early history. --> Talk about how plasma physicists study dust in plasma on the surface of the moon, meteor formation and structure, cometary tails (basically, all of that is dusty plasma).

HS.Weather and Climate

ESS2.D: Weather and Climate - The foundation for Earth’s global climate systems is the electromagnetic radiation from the sun, as well as its reflection, absorption, storage, and redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and land systems, and this energy’s re-radiation into space. --> Talk about how a fusion reaction can be viewed as a mini-sun.

HS.Human Sustainability --> Talk about alrernative energy sources enabled by plasmas

ESS3.A: Natural Resources

 Resource availability has guided the development of human society.

 All forms of energy production and other resource extraction have associated economic, social, environmental, and geopolitical costs and risks as well as benefits. New technologies and social regulations can change the balance of these factors. --> Develop exercise cmparing the risks and benefits of different energy sources.