RADIATON

E. Bachvarova & C. Matthews Mergenthaler High School

Objectives
Why are some atoms unstable? How do unstable atoms decay? How can we protect from radiation? What are the effects of radiation on living things?

What do you know about radiation?

Where does it come from? What does it do?

25 Days to Die

Radioactive Decay
Happens when the nucleus of the atom is uncomfortable with its
Weight Balance of protons and neutrons Energy

The unhappy nucleus goes through a life-change called

TRANSMUTATION.

The original nucleus is the mothernucleus. The new nucleus is the daughternucleus.

3 Types of Radioactive Decay:

Alpha () Beta () Gamma ()

The names come from the names of the first 3 letters of the Greek alphabet (which is done when scientists dont have a clue about whats going on)

-decay
The overweight mother-nucleus kicks out an alpha particles that is made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. The daughter-nucleus moves two spaces back in the periodic table. The -particles leave and ARE the radiation.

-decay

Alpha Decay Demo

alpha-decay_en.jar

-decay
When the nucleus has too many neutrons, it would change a neutron into a proton and an electron. The mother-nucleus moves one block ahead in the periodic table. The electron does not belong in a nucleus so it is ejected out of the nucleus with a bang. The ejected electrons have high energy and move fast. These electrons are the beta radiation.

-decay

There is also +decay. In this process a neutron changes into a proton and a positron (positive electron). The positron gets ejected out of the nucleus. The ejected positrons are the + radiation.

-decay demo

beta-decay_en.jar

-decay
When the nucleus has too much energy, it releases some of it as electromagnetic radiation. The released photons have very high energies and belong to the gamma-ray region of the spectrum. The number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus remains the same.

-decay
The star denotes the excited mother nucleus.

Lets jam!

Virtual Radiation Lab

Visual Simulations\Radiation Lab\Radia

Virtual Lab Instructions

Refer to the handout.

Research Project #1
How do Homeland Security professionals monitor radioactivity levels? What radioactivity levels are considered dangerous? What do you need to do if you are exposed to radioactivity?