1. Agree Learning Outcomes:
Topic: P6.1.2 Alpha, Beta & Gamma radiation
Spec link: P
Time: 75 mins
Recorded Assessment:
Review:
Present New Knowledge:
Agree Learning Outcomes:
What is Nuclear Decay?
What types of radiation do unstable nuclei emit?
What are the properties of nuclear radiation?
How can these properties be explained?
What is “ionising radiation”?
Apply To Demonstrate:
Construct Meaning:

2. What are the similarities and differences in the properties of these isotopes of Hydrogen?
5mins Bell/recap
Build each of these using PhET Build an Atom. Tick the “Stable/Unstable” box. What do you notice?
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.

3. P6.1.2 Alpha, Beta & Gamma Radiation
Learning Questions:
What is Nuclear Decay?
What types of radiation do unstable nuclei emit?
What are the properties of nuclear radiation?
How can these properties be explained?
What is “ionising radiation”?
LOs
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.

4. Unstable isotopes can become stable by breaking down. This is called:
“Nuclear Decay”
When an unstable nucleus (parent nucleus) breaks down it emits a particle. The remaining nucleus is now called the daughter nucleus.
Watch the simulation demo: PhET Alpha Decay
5mins (NK&CM) The PhET simulation here will not run on chromebooks. Ensure you have tried it on the computer in the room where you are teaching and have it open before the lesson. There is lots of information on the sim that students don’t need. Use it to simply show a decay event on the “Single Atom” tab. You can pause it to see the alpha particle before it escapes. You might want to discuss how the atom changes.
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

5. The particles that are emitted from a nucleus are known as:
“Nuclear Radiation”
There different types of nuclear radiation. Here are four you need to know:
Radiation
Type
(particle or EM wave)
Symbol
What is it?
Equation Symbol
Diagram
Charge
Mass
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Neutron
5mins (NK & CM)Setting up the demonstration. Allow students to copy table while setting up the geiger counter, speaker etc (remember to cover the bench with paper). While doing so use the time to inform the students about the demonstration, the associated risks and that some students will need to move away from the demonstration bench before the radioactive sources are brought into the room.
Copy this table leaving 2 lines for each row.
Fill in anything you know from prior learning.
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

6. The particles / waves that are emitted from a nucleus are known as:
“Nuclear Radiation”
There different types of nuclear radiation. Here are four you need to know:
Radiation
Type
(particle or EM wave)
Symbol
What is it?
Equation Symbol
Diagram
Charge
Mass
Alpha
particle
2 protons + 2 neutrons
Beta
1 electron
Gamma
EM wave
High energy EM wave
Neutron n
1 neutron
5mins (NK & CM)Setting up the demonstration. Allow students to copy table while setting up the geiger counter, speaker etc (remember to cover the bench with paper). While doing so use the time to inform the students about the demonstration, the associated risks and that some students will need to move away from the demonstration bench before the radioactive sources are brought into the room.
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

7. The particles / waves that are emitted from a nucleus are known as:
“Nuclear Radiation”
There different types of nuclear radiation. Here are four you need to know:
Radiation
Type
(particle or EM wave)
Symbol
What is it?
Equation Symbol
Diagram
Charge
Mass
Alpha
particle
2 protons + 2 neutrons +2 4
Beta
1 electron -1
Almost 0
Gamma
EM wave
High energy EM wave
Neutron n
1 neutron 1
5mins (NK & CM)Setting up the demonstration. Allow students to copy table while setting up the geiger counter, speaker etc (remember to cover the bench with paper). While doing so use the time to inform the students about the demonstration, the associated risks and that some students will need to move away from the demonstration bench before the radioactive sources are brought into the room.
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

8. Properties of radiation:
Ionising Power
Range in Air
Penetrating Power
Blocked/shielded/absorbed by:
Alpha
Beta
Gamma
Neutron
10mins. (NK&CM) Radioactive sources demonstration. Get students to copy table while you collect the sources. Ensure any students who are sitting within 4m of the demonstration bench have moved seat away before leaving the room. Demonstrate each source while students fill out the table.
Watch the demonstration and fill out the table.
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

9. Can you relate these properties of radiation to their structure?
Ionising Power
Range in Air
Penetrating Power
Blocked/shielded/absorbed by:
Alpha
High
Short (cm)
Low
Paper
Beta
Medium
Medium (m)
2-3mm Aluminium
Gamma
Long (infinite)
2-3cm Lead or 1m concrete
Neutron
Low (indirect)
Long (km)
Hydrogen rich materials (eg water)
5mins While you return the radioactive sources students can fill any they didn’t get and discuss the question. On return, question the students about their discussion.
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

10. Ionizing radiation is any type of particle or electromagnetic wave that carries enough energy to ionize or remove electrons from an atom. There are two types of electromagnetic waves that can ionize atoms: X-rays and gamma-rays, and sometimes they have the same energy.

11. Alpha, Beta and Gamma are often referred to as “ionising radiation”
Alpha, Beta and Gamma are often referred to as “ionising radiation”. What does this mean and how does it relate to the research questions below?
What is a “Geiger Counter”?
How does it work?
Why is Nuclear Radiation dangerous?
What kind of harm can it do to living things?
5mins
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

12. What did you find out? What is a “Geiger Counter”? How does it work?
Why is Nuclear Radiation dangerous?
What kind of harm can it do to living things?
5mins Peer mark
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

13. In your books:
Explain why Alpha, Beta and Gamma have different penetrating powers?
Explain why Alpha, Beta and Gamma have different ionising powers?
Extension:
3. Explain the penetration and ionisation power of neutrons.
5mins Record and assess.
Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words:

14. Keywords: Isotope, Unstable nuclei, Nuclear decay, Nuclear radiation, Alpha particle,
Beta particle, Gamma ray, Neutron, Ionisation, Penetration, Geiger counter.
Key Words: