Initially, students may regard atoms as the fundamental chemical particles. True, electrons can be chipped off an atom, and...

Teaching Guidance 14-16

One of the most important characteristics of radioactivity is that it decays exponentially. This has two basic mathematical...

Teaching Guidance 14-16

The rate of decay of a radioactive source is proportional to the number of radioactive atoms (N) which are present.

Teaching Guidance 14-16

This is an interesting point relating to the limitations of models, which we'd recommend exploring in full with the students:

Teaching Guidance 14-16

What halves during a time period of one half-life? This thinking that underpins this challenge relates closely to the...

Teaching Guidance 14-16

When using the protactinium generator you will also need various other items listed here.

Teaching Guidance 14-16

In this activity students shake sweets to model the radioactive decay of a large number of unstable nuclei. You can use it to...

Teaching Guidance 14-16