Alpha Decay

Topics

• Alpha Decay
• Half Life
• Radiation

Description

Watch alpha particles escape from a polonium nucleus, causing radioactive alpha decay. See how random decay times relate to the half life.

Sample Learning Goals

• Explain what happens in alpha radiation.
• Predict what happens to an element when it undergoes alpha decay.
• Explain the concept of half life, including the random nature of it.
• Begin to gain an understanding of the forces that work to hold an atomic nucleus together (strong nuclear force) and the forces that work to break it apart (Coulomb, i.e. electric charge, force).