DISNEYLAND: OUR FRIEND THE ATOM (TV)
Summary
One in this series of family programs, presented under the umbrella title of "Disneyland," hosted by Walt Disney.
This “Tomorrowland” episode concerns the history and applications of atomic power. Walt Disney uses the example of the Nautilus from “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” as an example of nuclear power, then compares it to the real-life Nautilus, the world’s first nuclear-powered submarine. He explains that Disneyland is creating new exhibits to show “atomic energy in action.” To assist them, Disney has enlisted the aid of Dr. Heinz Haber, a nuclear physicist, to demonstrate the history and properties of the atom.
Dr. Haber uses the old Arabian tale of the fisherman and the genie as a metaphor for man’s relationship with atomic power. In it, a poor fisherman casts out his net to find a genie in a bronze vessel. The genie at first vows to destroy the fisherman, but he tricks the genie back into its vessel and agrees to release it in exchange for three wishes. Haber compares the fisherman casting his net into the ocean as mankind probing into the “sea of the unknown” in search of knowledge. The “genie” in this case is the energy contained within the element uranium.
The history of atomic science is outlined: in ancient Greece, the philosopher Democritus conceived of the atom based on the classical Greek elements of earth, fire, air, and water. Democritus conceived of atoms as being the smallest indivisible part of any entity, dubbing them “atomos,” literally “indivisible.” However, his fellow philosopher Aristotle challenged his theory, which was kept silent for centuries thereafter.
In the 17th Century, new devices such as the telescope and microscope were used to observe previously unobservable “universes,” such as the planetary bodies of the solar system and microscopic life-forms and crystal lattices. Discoveries made with the microscope hinted at the existence of the atom. The English chemist John Dalton revived Democritus’s idea of the atom, theorizing on the atomic structure of copper and how it formed individual copper crystals before coalescing into more complex forms. Haber explains that atoms are present in all materials, although many are composed of combinations of atoms in various compounds.
In 1811, the Italian scientist Amedeo Avogadro discovers that atoms of different elements can combine to create what he calls “molecules,” creating such common substances as water. Haber explains that atoms are in constant motion; fire has quite violent motion and thus produces heat from friction, solid objects haves slower motion, and ice has very slow motion. Using a visual representation of atomic motion, Haber demonstrates how steam power is created by exciting slower-moving atoms into a gaseous form. Steam power revolutionized mechanics, but became overly dependent on oil and gas power to function.
In 1896, the French scientist Henri Becquerel accidentally discovers the radiant properties of uranium, thus discovering radioactivity. At the same time, Marie and Pierre Curie discover radium, captivating the scientific community into trying to discover why these materials emit such energy. In 1905, Berlin physicist Albert Einstein hits upon his theory of mass-energy equivalence, explaining the energy-giving properties of uranium. The radiation is actually tiny fragments of atoms splintering off from the main mass and being ejected. This also proved that the atom is not indivisible and can be broken down into subatomic particles. In 1911, Ernest Rutherford conducts experiments with neutron rays proving that atoms are mostly empty space, with the bulk of their particles contained in a central mass, or “nucleus.”
Scientists investigate the nucleus and find it is made up of both positively- and neutrally-charged particles, called protons and neutrons respectively. Haber explains the differences in various elements, dependent upon the number of protons and neutrons in their nucleus. Atoms naturally maintain their number of protons, neutrons, and electrons. In elements such as uranium, the nucleus is unstable and thus expels neutrons to create radioactivity. Haber compares a radioactive atom to a mousetrap, which every so often activates of its own accord.
The biggest discovery in modern atomic science comes in 1938, when scientists in Berlin discover that when neutrons are fired into uranium atoms, the atom splits. In the process, two new neutron “bullets” are created, which can then split more atoms, thus causing a chain reaction that releases all the energy in the uranium at once. Haber uses a series of mousetraps and ping-pong balls to illustrate the nature of a chain reaction.
In this way, the “atomic genie” is freed in the form of nuclear weapons. Haber points out that nuclear energy is now being used as a power source. He describes the workings of a nuclear reactor, wherein a uranium reaction is kept in check by control rods which absorbs some neutrons so as not to create an explosion. The heat in the reactor is used as a furnace, to turn water into steam and thereby create steam power. It can also make nonradioactive substances radioactive.
Haber likens the current and potential uses of nuclear power to the genie’s “three wishes.” The “first wish” is for power, to cease reliance on coal and oil and provide electricity, naval power, jet power, and possibly space exploration. The “second wish” is for health purposes. Haber describes how radioactivity can be used as tracers to track the development of food and determine better farming methods, as well as radiations’ various health applications. The “third wish” is simply to keep nuclear energy away from violent uses and to spread its beneficial uses throughout the world. Commercials deleted.
(Series title varies: From 1954 to 1958 this series was telecast under the title "Disneyland"; from 1958 to 1961 this series was telecast under the title "Walt Disney Presents"; from 1961 to 1969 this series was telecast under the title "Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color"; from 1969 to 1979 this series was telecast under the title "The Wonderful World of Walt Disney"; from 1979 to 1981 this series was telecast under the title, "Disney's Wonderful World"; and from 1997-2005 this series was telecast under the title "The Wonderful World of Disney.")
(Network varies; this series was telecast on ABC from 1954-1961, on NBC from 1961 to 1981; on CBS from 1981 to 1983; and on ABC from 1997-2005.)
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: January 23, 1957 Wednesday 7:30
- RUNNING TIME: 0:49:09
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: B:00383
- GENRE: Children's programs
- SUBJECT HEADING: Children's programs; Education/Information; Science/Nature; Atomic energy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1954-1958
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Promos – “Johnny Tremaine” motion picture
CREDITS
- Hamilton S. Luske … Director
- Jack Boyd … Animation
- Cliff Nordberg … Animation
- John Lounsbery … Animation
- Jack Campbell … Animation
- Jack Buckley … Animation
- Ed Parks … Animation
- Milt Banta … Writer
- Oliver Wallace … Music by
- Walt Disney … Host
- Heinz Haber … Host
- Aristotle
- Democritus
- Amedeo Avogadro
- Henri Becquerel
- Marie Curie
- Pierre Curie
- John Dalton
- Albert Einstein
- Ernest Rutherford