1. Nuclear Reactions

2. Nuclear Decay Song on Youtube
Animation of Alpha, Beta, Gamma rays on youtube
radioactive dating using Uranium on Youtube
Animation Explain Why Nuclear decay and emissions occurs
One Half-life to Live Song on Youtube

3. Lesson 2: Nuclear Decay
Nuclear Radiation - Particles and energy released from decaying nucleus
3 types:
Alpha particles (a)
Beta particles (b)
Gamma rays (g)

4. Alpha Particles
particle that consists of two protons and two neutrons with an electric charge of +2
Like a Helium nucleus

5. Alpha Particles do not travel far due to:
Massive size
Are the least penetrating form of nuclear radiation

8. Beta Particles (b):
electron emitted during the radioactive decay of a neutron into a proton

9. Beta Particles (b):
travels further through matter than alpha particles
fast moving because it is so small

11. Gamma Rays (g):
high energy electromagnetic radiation emitted by a nucleus during radioactive decay

12. Gamma Rays (g): Have no mass and no charge
can penetrate matter deeply, even buildings

14. Lesson 4: Half-life of radioactive Isotopes
The length of time it takes half of the atoms of a sample of the radioactive isotope to decay
Vary from fractions of a second to billions of years

15. Radioactive Decay Rates
Radioactive decay is used to determine the age of old objects.
Carbon-14 dating can be used to date once-living materials from the past 50,000 years
Uranium dating cam be used to date rocks

17. Radioactive Decay Series for I-131

18. Radioactive Decay Series for I-131
Original sample

19. Radioactive Decay Series for I-131
1- half life

20. Radioactive Decay Series for I-131
2 – half lifes

21. Radioactive Decay Series for I-131
3 – half lives

22. Isotope Half - life Examples of Half-lifes for different Isotopes
K-40 1,280,000,000 years
Pt ,120 years
I days
Th s

23. Lesson 5: Nuclear Reactions: Nuclear fission
process of splitting a nucleus into two nuclei with smaller masses

24. Nuclear fission a large amount of energy is released
Used in Nuclear reactors in power plants and submarines

25. Chain reaction – an ongoing series of Fission reactions

37. Nuclar Fusion
Two nuclei with low masses are combined to form one nucleus of larger mass

38. Can only happen when nuclei are moving fast enough to get close to each other
Temperature in stars (millions of °C) are high enough for fusion to occur

39. It is very difficult to contain the reaction.
it must happen at temperatures greater than 108 oC,
no known material could contain it without melting
some success has been achieved by containing the reaction in a magnetic field

40. Dangers and Benefits of Nuclear Radiation
Radioactive substances can be very useful , but when used carelessly, nuclear radiation can be extremely dangerous, even though we are exposed to some radiation everyday.

41. Dangers from Nuclear Radiation
Background radiation
causing radiation sickness
causing genetic mutations

42. Benefits from Nuclear Radiation
smoke detectors
radioactive tracers in medicine
radioactive material added to a substance so that its location can be detected later

43. Benefits to Nuclear Power
does not produce gaseous pollutants that cause ozone depletion and acid rain
Cheap to make electricity this way but expensive to build the power plant
More energy in the known uranium reserves than in the known reserves of coal and oil

44. Dangers to Nuclear Power
Radioactive products must be handled correctly
Safety of the reactors
Equip with shielding
Storage of spent nuclear fuel