Play Flickclip Here

Summary of clip: Basher Tarr explains to the crew, trying to rob the Bellagio, that the only way to still pull off the job is to use a "pinch". He describes the "pinch" as a device that creates a 'cardiac arrest' to any broadband electrical circuit. It's like a bomb except without the explosion. When a nuclear weapon detonates it releases an electromagnetic pulse which shuts down any power source within its blast radius, destroying anything in its path. A "pinch" creates a similar electromagnetic pulse, but without the fuss of mass destruction just sending everything back to the 17th Century with no power. Their question is: Can a "pinch" knock out the power of an entire city for about 30 seconds. You'll have to watch the rest of the movie to find out!

1. Have students watch the flickclip on the "pinch."

2. Ask them which scale (i.e. large- everyday or small- atomic) they think the electromagnetic pulse is talking about. Answer: inside the atom are electromagnetic forces acting between electrically charged parts of atoms, such as electrons and protons.

3. Have a discussion on the nature of the nucleus and which fundamental forces come into play. Introducing the strong nuclear force and the weaker electromagnetic force, which is the force of repulsion between like charges.

4. Also discuss what the electromagnetic forces are responsible for: including the structure of atoms, chemical change, and electricity and magnetism.

5. How does the electromagnetic force affect your life? Electromagnetism plays a role in each of these: magnetism, listening to the radio, a balloon sticking to a wall after rubbing the balloon, friction, x-rays, television, microwaves, light.