Lesson: Radioactive Decay Physics

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In this lesson, we will learn how to calculate the change in the activity of a radioactive sample after a given amount of time has passed.

Lesson Plan

Students will be able to

  • use 𝑡=𝜏(2)ln in all permutations to relate 𝑡, the half-life of a radioactive isotope, to 𝜏, the mean lifetime of a nucleus of that isotope,
  • use 𝑡=(2)𝜆ln in all permutations to relate 𝑡, the half-life of a radioactive isotope, to 𝜆, the decay constant of that isotope,
  • use 𝜏=1𝜆 in all permutations to relate 𝜏, the mean lifetime of a nucleus of an isotope, to 𝜆, the decay constant of that isotope,
  • use 𝑁=𝑁𝑒ln() in all permutations, where 𝑁 is the number of atoms of a given radioactive isotope at time 𝑡, 𝑁 is the initial number of atoms, and 𝑡 is the half-life of the isotope,
  • use 𝑁=𝑁𝑒 in all permutations,
  • use 𝐴=𝐴𝑒ln() in all permutations, where 𝐴 is the activity of a given radioactive sample at time 𝑡, 𝐴 is the initial activity, and 𝑡 is the half-life,
  • use 𝐴=𝐴𝑒 in all permutations.

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