A2 Module 5
Nuclear Instability

 

What you need to know

Specification
Details of the syllabus for this section. It is your responsibility to make a good set of notes on everything outlined here

 

Teacher notes

Notes will be posted here from time to time in the form of word documents or PowerPoints

N-Z Graph
A graph showing the neutron excess for the stable nuclei

Power Point on Decay of Isotopes

Very good notes on electron diffraction and distance of closest approach

Modes of Decay Power Point

 

Lesson activities

Half-life
Practical activity that models radioactive decay and produces graphs on Excel

Carbon-14 dating
A research activity

Virtual Dating
Test your knowledge and understanding of Radiocarbon Dating

Distance of closest approach

worked example for distance of closest approach

Probing Matter
A table for you to fill in

 

Useful websites

Nuclear Physics
A website explaining the key facts on this topic

Periodic Table
Chemical data for individual elements can be obtained by following the data link from the web page

Marie Curie
A brief life story of this amazing woman

Radioactive Decay Equations:
notes and questions from S-cool!

 

Online tests

 

Radioactivity multi-choice quiz from S-cool!

 

Animations

Radioactive Decay 1
A useful applet on Decay

Radioactive Decay 2
An applet showing the half life of different isotopes

 

Students Work

Carbon Dating
PowerPoint by  Jack Longbottom and Willem Labuschagne