AS Science in Society 1.7
Radiation: risks and uses

This topic introduces new science explanations covering radioactivity and the ways in which radiation can both harm human health and diagnose and treat disease.

The main focus is on the how science works ideas on risk in the context of radiation. It covers ways of determining risk and some of the uncertainties involved. It provides opportunities to discuss why we take the personal decisions we do and some of the factors that influence government decisions on the regulation of risk management.

The references below to How Science Works (HSW) and to Science Explanations (SE) use the code letters found in sections 3.6 and 3.7 of the specification. Learning skills for Science (LSS) activities are integrated into all the AS topics. These represent an alternative or additional approach to some topics, emphasising the development of skills. They can be used flexibly for class or homework activities depending on time available.

Focus of session / Suggested activities and resources / LSS
1 / Introduction to attitudes to risk
Types of radiation and their effects on human body
(SE Dd, De, Df, Dg)
(HSW Gb, Gd Ge) / Introductory activity What risks do you take?
Risk your personal choices activity
Reading textbook p 98-99 / Skill area 3 LSS: Reading and sharing Students work in pairs to study the topic of radiation from two very different points of view. They then share their viewpoints and make a summary of key concepts in their preferred styles.
2 / Uncertain evidence for risk - mobile phones how do people react to health warnings
(SE De)
HSW (Bi, Gb, Gd, Ge, Gf, Gi ) / Mobile phone use and the precautionary principle questionnaire activity
Reading textbook and discussing questions p. 99-101
3 / Relative and absolute risk
The difficulty of proving a negative.
A prospective cohort study
(HSW Bi, Bg, Gb) / Talking risk activity on relative and absolute risk.
Mobile phones and cancer? a data activity about proving a negative
4 / Uncertain evidence for risk - high voltage power lines. A case control study
Different ways of establishing a causal link
(SE De, Df )
(HSW Bh) / Do power lines cause leukaemia? Reading and discussing text book p101-104
Animations from Health Protection Agency At a Glance series explaining the science

5 / Atomic structure
Radioactive decay
Half life
(SE Da, Db, Dc) / Edible atoms Revision activity Nuclear structure and isotopes
Understanding radioactivity - reading textbook p. 110-111

Demonstration - use of Geiger counters and/or web animation of decay and/ or of α β γ properties

6 / Different units for radioactivity
Half life
(SE Da, Db, Dg, Dh, Ed)
(HSW Fb, Fc) / Radioactivity units activity explaining how radioactivity is measured

Radioactive dice Half life activity

Looking your age a comprehension activity on the use of half-life (could be used for homework)
7 / Effects of radiation on human health and some of the uncertainties in risk estimates
Sources of ionising radiation
(SE Db, Dc, Df, Dg, Dh)
(HSW Gc) / Reading the textbook and discussing questions
p 109 –110, 112
Estimate your radiation dose activity
8 / Medical uses of radiation
(SE Db, Df, Dg, Dh)
(HSW Gf, Gh, Gi, Hb) /

Uses of radioactivity activity

/ Skill area 5 LSS: Writing a summary – summarising information from 3 sources on a topic. Two Catalyst articles ‘Medical Imaging’ and ‘Radioactivity in medicine’ are provided.
9 / Exposing people to radiation
Justification and ALARA in decision making about risk, cost benefit
(HSW Gf, Gh, Gi, Hb) / Managing radiation doses activity
10 / Ways in which radioactive materials can enter and move through the environment
The role of the media in providing scientific information
(SE Dg, Dh)
(HSW Fb, Fc, Gh) / Reading the textbook and discussing questions p113-114
Radioactive pigeons activity on contamination
11 / How risks are estimated and some of the uncertainties involved using radon as an example.
(SE Da, Db, Dc, Dg, Dh)
(HSW Bc, Bd, Bf, Bi, Cd, Eb) / Reading text book and discussing questions p116-120
Animation on radon decay and its effects from HPA
12 / Review activity / Making decisions about using radiation - exam style question on use of radiation in health care, risks and decisions or
Review questions from textbook p.123 / Skill area 3 LSS: Using visuals: Krypton factor style – recreating visual by listening to other students’ description of visuals about radioactivity.

July 2011