Radioactive Decay Activity using Pennies

This site is an activity simulating radioactive decay using pennies. Good activity illustrating half-life.

Weblink address (URL):

Standards & Objectives

Learning objectives:

Learning Goals:

to illustrate the exponential nature of radioactive decay
to demonstrate the concept of half-life
to establish the randomness of radioactive decay
to illustrate the concept that quantity determines the number of isotopes that decay

Lesson Variations

Blooms taxonomy level:

Understanding

Differentiation suggestions:

If your class is particularly large, you might want to have a few students help you count the "undecayed" isotopes. This demonstration is a great way to break up the lecture with a short activity – students get to stretch their legs. I often give students the penny at the beginning of class with no explanation – or say something like, "Today, you're getting paid for coming to class!" After introducing some of the concepts involved in radioactive decay, I do the demonstration. I usually let them keep the penny at the end of the class.

References

Contributors:

Bonnie Principe

Originator:

Ayers Institute for Learning & Innovation