Measuring Radioactivity

Honors Physics completed their radiation labs today, but I won’t expect the write ups until Friday. Groups seemed to get good data that fit their predictions/model equations, so the conclusion section of your synopsis should be a walk in the park. Tomorrow, we review the labs and the introductory material for nuclear physics before moving on with nuclear half-life and properties of other subatomic particles.

Physical Science B went over their magnetism exams and then walked though the textbooks sections that are relevant to the forces strands of the MCAS frameworks. Students then received a review sheet for the forces concepts that they began to work on in class and will continue to work on in class tomorrow. You will also get a set of problems for forces tomorrow and we will look at going over all of the material on Friday.

Physical Science E took time to review their motion problems and then started in on forces. We looked at the relevant textbook material and then students began to work on their forces review sheet. We will continue to work on these tomorrow and also add on a set of problems dealing with forces and gravity.

Physics F began a discussion of nuclear decay and the properties of alpha, beta and gamma decay. The lab on which you’ll work tomorrow will allow you to investigate radioactive decay in more detail and will highlight protocols for safe handling of nuclear materials/waste products. Physics G conducted this lab today and got to see the effects of distance and shielding on the intensity of radiation at a particular location. With greater distance, radiation intensity falls, and the effect is an exponential one. Increased shielding also reduces radiation intensity. Tomorrow, we’ll work on the last lab in the set, which will let you see how statistics is used for evaluating nuclear decay.

Homework

Honors Physics A: Lab write up for Friday
Physical Science B and E: Students may choose to work on their forces review material
Physics F: Read lab protocol sheet
Physics G: None