Watch alpha particles escape from a polonium nucleus, causing radioactive alpha decay. See how random decay times relate to the half life.

In this activity, students in grades 5 – 11 will use M&Ms to learn about radioactivity, the rate at which an isotope decays, and the concept of half-life. They will count and record the number of decayed “atoms” and graph the results.

This course integrates studies of engineering sciences, reactor physics and safety assessment into nuclear power plant design. Topics include materials issues in plant design and operations, aspects of thermal design, fuel depletion and fission-product poisoning, and temperature effects on reactivity, safety considerations in regulations and operations, such as the evolution of the regulatory process, the concept of defense in depth, General Design Criteria, accident analysis, probabilistic risk assessment, and risk-informed regulations.

This film examines the process of radioactive decay as part of an educational unit on the health effects of ionizing radiation (radioactivity). Educational concepts include radioisotope, radioactive decay, alpha radiation, beta radiation, gamma radiation, x-radiation, decay chain, and half-life. This instructional film is from Kansas State University's web-based course, GENAG 711, Occupational and Agricultural Health. Copyright 2011, Mitch Ricketts.

This film explores the health effects of ionizing radiation (radioactivity). The film also examines methods for reducing exposures to radiation in workplaces. Educational concepts include ionizing radiation, radiation sickness, radiation burns, other health effects, ion pairs, free radicals, penetration versus interaction, and time/distance/shielding. This instructional film is from Kansas State University's web-based course, GENAG 711, Occupational and Agricultural Health. Copyright 2011, Mitch Ricketts

This film examines exposures to alpha particles that are emitted from the nuclei of some heavy, unstable atoms. Major topics include health effects, exposures, and protective measures. Other educational concepts include internal radiation hazard, radon and its daughters/progeny.
This instructional film is from Kansas State University's web-based course, GENAG 711, Occupational and Agricultural Health. Copyright 2011, Mitch Ricketts.

This film examines exposures to beta particles that are emitted from the nuclei of some heavy, unstable atoms. Major topics include health effects, exposures, and protective measures. Other educational concepts include internal radiation hazard, external radiation hazard, and shielding. This instructional film is from Kansas State University's web-based course, GENAG 711, Occupational and Agricultural Health. Copyright 2011, Mitch Ricketts.

This lesson introduces students to the basics of nuclear energy production. Topics include radioisotope thermoelectric generators, natural decay of radioactive isotopes, and chain reactions.

Learn about different types of radiometric dating, such as carbon dating. Understand how decay and half life work to enable radiometric dating to work. Play a game that tests your ability to match the percentage of the dating element that remains to the age of the object.

The EJS Radioactive Decay Distribution Model simulates the decay of a radioactive sample using discrete random events. It displays the distribution of the number of events (radioactive decays) in a fixed time interval. If each event is assumed to occur independently and spontaneously with a constant probability, the resulting distribution if the Poisson distribution. You can change the initial number of nuclei, the decay constant and the time interval for the event distribution.

The EJS Radioactive Decay Events Model simulates the decay of a radioactive sample using discrete random events. It displays the number of events (radioactive decays) as a function of time in a given time interval. You can change the initial number of nuclei, the decay constant and the time interval for the event distribution.