NOTE TO STUDENTS:  Read "Background" below before answering the questions.

1.  What is CHAMP?

2.  How does CHAMP work?

3.  Define collateral damage.

4.  How might this technology be used against America's enemies in the near future?

5.  How could it change the type of warfare in which we are engaged?

6.  What two words best describe your reaction to this technology? Explain your answers.

7.  The Times of Israel reported in October on what Iran might do if it obtained a nuclear weapon (if it had the capability to carry out an electromagnetic pulse attack):

"There is a third possible scenario [of what Iran would do]: The Iranian military could carry out an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack against Israel, the US, or Europe. Such an attack could cause severe damage to the electrical grid in the targeted nations, to the extent that the routines of daily life - centered around the use of electrical power - could be halted, for a short or even long period of time.  While there is much speculation as to what exactly an EMP would do to electrical appliances and digital devices - scientists have differences of opinion over how badly they would be affected (the world hasn’t really experienced a direct EMP blast yet, so much of the speculation is based on educated guesses) - the far-greater concern is what an attack would do to the electrical infrastructure in a targeted area. If an EMP strike is large enough, or there are enough such strikes, the blasts could knock out power plants, electrical substations, and other sensitive equipment, causing a massive power failure that may take weeks or months to overcome. Data centers housing servers would likely be badly damaged as well, as would be communications systems."

a)  Do you think Boeing's successful test of CHAMP is a positive step in protecting the U.S. and our allies?  Explain your answer.
b)  Ask a parent the same question.  Discuss your answers.