1. Half – Life Lab / Radioactive Incident Research
Nuclear PBL Unit – Day 3

2. Common Core Connection
Objectives
Today I will be able to:
Explain how some isotopes are made of unstable nuclei that decay over a specific half-life and emit particles and energy
Apply knowledge of radioactive principles to researching a radioactive incident
Informal Assessment – monitoring student questions and interactions as they complete the activities
Formal assessment – analyzing student responses to the lab questions and exit ticket
Common Core Connection
Use technology and digital media strategically and capably
Reason abstractly and quantitatively

3. Lesson Sequence Evaluate: Warm-Up Engage/Explore: Half-Life Lab
Elaborate: Radioactive Incident Research
Evaluate: Exit Ticket

4. Warm-Up What are the 4 types of radioactive particles?
What are the example equations for these particle emissions?

5. Objective Today I will be able to:
Explain how some isotopes are made of unstable nuclei that decay over a specific half-life and emit particles and energy
Apply knowledge of radioactive principles to researching a radioactive incident

6. Homework For your radioactive incident:
Determine the quantity (mass) of your isotope involved in the incident.
Ex. 2.0 g Thorium-233
Determine the half-life of your isotope
Ex. The half-life of thorium-233 is 22 minutes

7. Agenda
Warm-Up
Half-Life Lab
Radioactive Incident Research
Exit Ticket

8. Radioactivity Half-Life Lab

9. What is radioactivity? Act of emitting radiation spontaneously
Atomic nucleus is unstable and wants to give up energy to form a more stable configuration
Radiation can be given off as particles or high energy rays

10. What is radioactivity half-life?
Half – life – the time it takes for half of the atoms in a given mass to disintegrate (release radiation) and become more stable
Length of time varies
½ second to a billion years

11. Twizzler Half-Life Lab
Follow Ms. Ose’s directions on how to complete the lab. Once you finish the questions, turn the lab into Ms. Ose and begin working on the research in lab.

12. Radioactive Incident Research

13. Exit Ticket How much research were you able to accomplish today?
What have you learned about your radioactive incident?