Teaching and learning radioactivity
The order we teach things
These lessons take as their starting point a scheme developed by Professor Robin Millar at the University of York.
Simulation of how a gamma tracer can be used to find a leak in an oil pipeline. You only need to understand the properties of gamma radiation, rather than the details of where it comes from for this to make sense.The principle is that many students have trouble with atomic theory but that fortunately many of the uses and dangers can be discussed without having to go into any detail of the subatomic origin of nuclear radiation. MORE
Some common misconceptions about radioactivity
Radioactivity is not something that students often come across in their everyday lives (or at least, not knowingly) so there are fewer misconceptions than in other areas of physics.
Simulation of nuclei decaying emphasising that the nuclei don't disappear, they just change into a more stable form.However there are some important misconceptions that's it's worth being able to identify. MORE
Some key ideas that it's important to grasp
There are a few key ideas that really help you understand electricity.
Activity Going forward in time to see what happens to the radioactivity of sources of different half-lives. One important idea is that the longer the half-life, the lower the radioactivity.If you can pick them up then the whole subject becomes much easier. MORE
The language we use when we talk about radioactivity
Radioactivity uses a certain amount of technical language.
Animation explaining the difference between contamination and irradiation. A common misconception is that when radiation hits something it then becomes radioactive.This can cause problems for students and teachers alike. MORE
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