Lesson: Radioactive Decay Chains Physics • 9th Grade

In this lesson, we will learn how to determine the products of radioactive decay chains and identify the type of radioactive decay from the decay products.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

identify decay processes from nuclear ball diagrams involving one or more decays,
identify the reactants and products from nuclear ball diagrams involving one or more decays,
recall the approximate masses of alpha, beta, and gamma particles,
complete and write nuclear equations for decay-chain processes.

Lesson Worksheet

Q1:

Astatine-218 undergoes beta decay to radon-218. Radon-218 undergoes alpha decay to polonium-214. This is shown in the following nuclear equation:

What is the value of in the equation?

Q2:

Which type of nuclear radiation has no mass?

Q3:

The diagram shows a beryllium-11 nucleus undergoing two-step radioactive decay. Red circles represent protons, gray circles represent neutrons, and blue circles represent electrons. What isotope is produced through this reaction?