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Activity Half Life

The document describes an activity to model radioactive decay using coins. Students will shake a container of coins for 10 second intervals, removing coins facing up each time to simulate decay. They will record the number of coins remaining after each half-life interval. By plotting the data on a graph, students can determine the number of half-lives required for the number of coins to reach 30, 15, and 7.5 and the total time for all coins to decay. They will then analyze whether results would differ if coins were re-oriented facing down after each interval.

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Nor Shuhada
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52 views2 pages

Activity Half Life

The document describes an activity to model radioactive decay using coins. Students will shake a container of coins for 10 second intervals, removing coins facing up each time to simulate decay. They will record the number of coins remaining after each half-life interval. By plotting the data on a graph, students can determine the number of half-lives required for the number of coins to reach 30, 15, and 7.5 and the total time for all coins to decay. They will then analyze whether results would differ if coins were re-oriented facing down after each interval.

Uploaded by

Nor Shuhada
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ACTIVITY 6.

3 ( TEXTBOOK PAGE 203) PENNY’S HALF LIFE

Aim : To draw a decay curve

Apparatus : 40 coins ( any coins would do) but it is the best to use same size of coins, Or M&M
chocolate, phone stopwatch

Material : Graph paper, container with lid

Instructions :

Watch the video that I send in group to get an idea about today activity.

1. Fill the container with the coins. Arranged the coins so that it number is facing down.
2. Make sure you have the data sheet with you.
3. Start with “Half life = 0” , Time = 0 , number of coins = 30
4. Close the lid tightly.
5. Half – life = 1 , Time = 10s , number of coins = ……….
6. Shake the container for 10s. Use your phone stop watch. After 10s, stop shaking the container.
7. Open the lid. Remove coins that facing up, i.e. the number is facing up.
8. Calculate the number of coins that remains inside the container. Record your data on Column
“number of coins”
9. Half-life 2 , Time = 10s
10. Close the lid tightly.
11. Shake the container for 10s. Use your phone stop watch. After 10s, stop shaking the container.
12. Open the lid. Remove coins that facing up, i.e. the number is facing up.
13. Calculate the number of coins that remains inside the container. Record your data on Column
“number of coins”
14. Repeat steps 9 – 13 for next half life until there is no more coins inside the container.

Data analysis :

Plot a graph of the number of coins against Half-Life .

Discussion :

1. From your graph, determine the following :


(a) the number of half -life when the number of coins left becomes 30, 15 and 7.5.
(b) the time taken for the coins to completely “decay”.
2. Will the results of your findings will be different if the activity is repeated with the coins facing
down for each throw?
3. What are the characteristics of the radioactive decay in this activity?
Data Sheet :

Number of Half-Life ( T1/2 ) Time (s) Number of coins

0 T1/2 0 40

1 T1/2 10

2T1/2 20

3 T1/2 30

4 T1/2 40

5 T1/2 50

6 T1/2 60

7 T1/2 70

8T1/2 80

9 T1/2 90

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