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Materials Analysis Questions Assessment
Grade Level: High School
Students will simulate radioactive decay and half-life over time and graph the data.
Students will understand the components of radioisotopes.
Students will predict the nuclear equation for unstable nuclei.
Students will evaluate the accuracy of radioactive
Illinois State Goals:
Goal 11: Understand the of scientific inquiry and technological design or investigate questions, conduct experiments and solve problems.
11.A.3f Interpret and represent results of analysis to produce findings.
11.A.4d Apply statistical methods to the data to reach and support conclusions.
12.C.3a Explain interactions of energy with matter including of state and conservation of mass and energy.
12.C..3b Model and describe the
chemical and physical characteristics of matter (e.g. atoms,
elements, compounds, mixtures)
Estimate Time: two or more 50 -minute periods, not including enrichment assignment
Definitions and Concepts:
Radioactivity results from the spontaneous decay of an atom's nucleus. There are three main types of nuclear decay: alpha, beta , positron, and gamma. Each results in a characteristics change in the parent nucleus and is characterized by the formation/ejection of a specific particle or electromagnetic radiation.
Describe each type of decay showing the particle.
Teaching Strategy: Have students work in cooperatively for lab activity. Students will use rubric to evaluate how well they work with each other as a group. Teacher will used same rubric to evaluate individual student performance during the activity.
# White Chip
Note: The first toss is the first half-life(1/2). The second half-life is (1/4) , third half-life (1/8) and etc .
What is radioactive decay?
Define half- life.
If you shake 300 chips, on average how many white surfaces would expect?
How many tosses did it take to get rid of all of you chips?
Examine the graph, is the rate of the number of white surfaces produced over time linear or nonlinear? Is the rate constant over time or does it change?
Cs-137 has a half-life of 30 years. Using what you learned about half- life from table approximately, how many years have passed if you have 19 grams of your 300 grams?
If 150 years have passed, how much of the original 300 grams sample should be left?
Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5730 years. If you start with 100 grams of carbon-14 in how many years will you have only 50 grams left?
In what way is the chip toss like decay of radioactive element?
Why is Carbon-14 not used for dating rocks and minerals?
If a piece of wood only contains one-eighth of its
original Carbon-14, approximately how old is that piece of wood?
Balancing Nuclear Equations
Directions: Predict the products of the following nuclear equations.
Sample: atomic mass number - top number
atomic number - bottom number
N + He
Nitrogen-14 + alpha particle
Add the atomic
masses of nitrogen -14 and the alpha particle.
14 + 4= 18 New mass number
Next, add the atomic
number of nitrogen-14 and the alpha particle.
7 + 2= 9
Looking at a periodic
table, which element has an atomic number of 9.
F Fluorine -18
U + He
Cu + e
Ag + e
Na + e
Assessment: Pre-Lab Discussion, Group/ Cooperative Learning Rubric, and Responses to Lab Activity Questions.
Illinois State Assessments and Evaluation
IV- C. apply multiple methods of evaluation to determine student's appropriate use of technology resources for learning, communication, and productivity
Choose one of three types of radiation alpha, beta, or gamma. Make a poster that illustrates the harmful effect to specific organs of the human body. Find out how nuclear workers minimize their exposure to radiation. Include information about how the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) monitors exposure rates for individuals that work with radioactive materials.
Write a research paper ( 3-5 pages) that critiques the accuracy of
radioactive dating of materials. Find information on the
internet that disagrees with the theory of an old earth. Use that information to defend the theory of a young earth.
The United States is depleting its natural resources of coal and oil
rapidly. Scientist believe that by the year 2040
all reserves will be exhausted. You have been elected as a senator for the state of Illinois. Legislators and businessmen
have been lobbying for your vote to build more nuclear power plants to supply the demand for energy. Write a two-page
report describing the advantages and disadvantages posed by building another nuclear power plant in your state.
Answers to Lab Activity:
Answer to Balancing Nuclear Equations:
Electron Capture: Na
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