Science

6. Explore the half-life of a radioactive isotope

Mission Objectives

Describe what's meant by the half-life of a radioactive isotope

Determine the half-life of a radioactive isotope

Calculate the decrease in radioactive count rate after a given number of half-lives

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KS4-21-06 Lesson Slides KS4-21-06 Mission Assignment KS4-21-06 Handout KS4-21-06 PDF Handout KS4-21-06-Teacher Answers

Keywords

Words and meanings to learn

half-life

the average time it takes for half of the atoms in a radioactive material to decay

sample

a smaller, manageable version of a larger group

radioactive decay

the emission of radiation by a radioactive isotope

decline

a gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, quality or value

ratio

shows the relative size between numbers; how many times one number contains another

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Required Resources

Resources: Class presentation and handout.

Handout:  Make notes on the history of half-life experiments and links to alpha scattering experiment. Practice applying half-life definitions to maths-based questions involving fractions. Apply knowledge of half-life to deduce how information can be used to explore the best isotopes to use with living organisms.

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