Penetration of Ionising Radiation
Investigating absorption of alpha, beta and gamma
Investigate how distance and barriers affect the penetration of ionising radiation using a virtual GM tube and counter.
"Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less."
Half-Life
Model the random nature of radioactive decay
Roll a tray of dice, remove the ones showing the dark face, and plot the decay curve — a hands-on model of the random nature of radioactive decay.
Nuclear Fission
Split heavy nuclei and release energy
Visualise the fission of uranium-235 by neutron bombardment. Explore chain reactions and understand how nuclear reactors control the process.
Nuclear Fusion
Combine light nuclei to power the stars
Explore how hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium, releasing enormous energy. Understand the conditions required for fusion and why it powers the Sun.