Objectives, Outcomes, Outline

COURSE OBJECTIVES



1. Students will be informed/remined of nuclear (atomic) structure.

2. Students will be introduced to the Strong Nuclear Force.

3. Students will be familiarized with radioactivity.

4. Students will be briefly informed of the interaction of magnetism and charged particles.

5. Students will be acquainted with -- as well as the decay of -- (i) Alpha particles, (ii) Beta particles, (iii) Antimatter, (iv) gamma particles and (v) neutrinos.

6. Students will be exposed to the history, construction and operation of a Cloud Chamber.

7. Students will be introduced to (i) radioactive detection, (ii) radioactive dating, and (iii) some medical applications of radioactivity.

COURSE OUTCOMES

1. Students will be able to identify specific elements and isotopes.

2. Students will be able to explain the relative effects of the Strong Nuclear Force.

3. Students will be able to model radioactive decay.

4. Students will be able to demonstrate the effects of magnetism and charged and non-charged particles.

5. Students will be able to explain the composition of (i) Alpha particles, (ii) Beta particles, (iii) Antimatter, (iv) gamma particles and (v) neutrinos.

6. Students will be able to construct and operate a cloud chamber.

7. Students will be able to discuss and imagine practical uses of radioactivity.

OUTLINE

1. Nuclear (atomic) structure.
Isotopes.

2. Strong Nuclear Force and the stability of the nucleus.
(A) Strong Nuclear Force
(B) Weak Nuclear Force
( C) Gravity


3. I. Radioactivity
(A) Alpha Rays
(B) Beta Rays
( C) Gamma Rays

II. Conservation of nucleon number.

III. Magnetism/magnetic field deflects charged particles.

4. I. (A) Alpha Particle sources and composition
(B) Alpha Particle decay

II. (A) Beta Particle sources and composition
(B) Beta Particle decay
( C) Positrons (aka Antimatter)
(D) Neutrinos

III. (A) Gamma Particle sources and composition
(B) Gamma Particle decay

IV. Other particles.

5. History and construction of Cloud Chamber.

6. Radiation Detection, Radioactive Dating and some Medical Applications of Radioactivity.