Shanghai Singapore International School
Subject area: Physics Topic: General physic Year Group: Grade 10
Unit title: P15 Radioactivity Time allocation: 1 Week Trimester: Trimester 1, 2, 3
Aims:1. To Know and understand that radioactive substances emit radiation from the nuclei of their atoms all the time.
2. To understand the structure of atoms and the three fundamental particles.
3. To distinquish three types of radiation and its uses
4, To understand and describe that the use of radioactive sources depends on their penetrating power and half-life.
5. To explain the meaning of isotopes
6 evaluate the possible hazards associated with the use of different types of nuclear radiation including ionising radiation from isotopes.
7 evaluate measures that can be taken to reduce exposure to nuclear radiations.
8 evaluate the appropriateness of radioactive sources for particular uses, including as tracers, in terms of the type(s) of radiation emitted and their half-lives
9. To understnd how nucler fission reactions used in a nuclear power energy resource.
Pre-requisite knowledge:
1. Students are aware of the basic structure of atoms.
2. Students understand the dangers of radioactive emmissions.
3. Students are required to handle basic algebraic equations.
Learning objectives / Teaching Notes/ Essential Questions / Assessment / Assignment / Resources
P15 Radioactivity
15.1 Detection of radioactivity
1 Demonstrate understanding of background radiation.
2 Describe the detection of α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays (β+ are not included; β-particles will be taken to refer to β–).
15.2 Characteristics of the three kinds of emission
1 State that radioactive emissions occur randomly over space and time.
2 Recall for radioactive emissions, and use to identify them:
their nature,
their relative ionising effects,
their relative penetrating abilities.
3 Describe the deflection of α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays in electric fields and magnetic fields.
4 Interpret their relative ionising effects.
15.3 Radioactive decay
1 State the meaning of radioactive decay.
2 Use equations (involving words or symbols) to represent changes in the composition of the nucleus when particles are emitted.
15.4 Half-life
1 Use the term half-life in simple calculations, including the use of information in tables or decay curves.
15.5 Safety precautions
1 Describe the hazards of ionising radiation to living things.
2 Describe how radioactive materials are handled, used and stored in a safe way to minimise the effects of these hazards.
15.6 The nuclear atom
1 Describe the composition of the nucleus in terms of protons and neutrons
2 Use the term proton number Z
3 Use the term nucleon number A
15.7 Isotopes
1 Use the term isotope.
2 Give and explain examples of practical applications of isotopes.
3 Use the term nuclide and use the nuclide notation ZAX / What is it an atom lie?
What is radioactivity? Why does it happen?
How to detect the radioactivity? What are the measurement of radioactivity?
How did they find out there were three types of atomic ionising radiation?
What are the properties of three types of radioactive emission and their symbols?
What are the dangers and uses of radioactive isotopes?
What is half life? How is it useful in our society?
What actually happens to the nucleus in alpha and beta radioactive decay? / Assignment: Worksheets radioactive decay and half life
Nuclear power plant simulation
Assessment: Test / Various video resources and worksheet
Phet simulation:
α-particles, β-particles and γ-rays decay
Half life