Radioactive Decay Lesson Plan

Common Core Connection Objectives: Today I will be able to: Identify the benefits and risks associated with the practical uses of alpha, beta and gamma emissions. Write balanced alpha and beta decay equations. Informal assessment – monitoring student questions and interactions as they complete the decay equation practice Formal assessment – analyzing student responses to the warm up, closure and alpha/beta decay practice problems Common Core Connection Build Strong Content Knowledge Use technology and digital media strategically and capably Reason abstractly and quantitatively Look for and make use of structure Make sense of problem and persevere in solving them

Lesson Sequence Evaluate: Warm Up (5-7 min) Explain: Writing Decay Equations (15 min) Elaborate: Decay Equation Practice (20 min) Informal assessment of student questions and responses Formal assessment of student answers Evaluate: Closure (5-7 min) Formal assessment of meeting the objectives

Warm Up Take out the compute your own radiation dose worksheet How much radiation are you exposed to during a year? How does that number make you feel? Do any of the radiation values surprise you on the worksheet? Period 5 New Seats

www.epa.gov

Radioactive Energy Spread Haz-map.com

What does your radiation exposure value mean? No evidence of cancer occurring <10,000 mrem exposure Body has time to repair cells when exposed to low concentrations of radiation Correlation has been found with cancer and radiation exposure >50,000 mrem

Objectives Today I will be able to: Identify the benefits and risks associated with the practical uses of alpha, beta and gamma emissions. Write balanced alpha and beta decay equations.

Homework Study for your Unit 3 Exam on Thursday, October 14 Topics: Atomic Structure History of the Atom Radioactivity Complete the alpha and beta decay practice problems worksheet

Agenda Warm Up Writing Decay Equations Decay Equation Practice Closure

We can represent the energy emitted during radioactive decay using a decay equation

What are the pieces of a radioactive decay equation? Radioactive Particle Symbol New Decay Product Unstable Isotope

Alpha Decay Equation Example The Calvert Cliff’s nuclear power plant uses Uranium – 235. Write the alpha decay equation

Beta Decay Equation Example The radioisotope yttrium-90 is used in cancer treatments. Write the beta decay equation.

Gamma Radiation Example Gamma radiation is emitted from Uranium 235 at the nuclear power plant. Write an equation representing the gamma energy emitted.

Task: Complete the Decay Equation Practice at your desk

Closure Students will be re-polled on “Poll Everywhere” on the previous questions. True or False. The negative risks of using nuclear energy outweigh the positive impacts. True or False. Americans get most of their yearly radiation dose from nuclear power plants.

https://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/wXbY5xUIU8cyKBy