Nuclear Physics Demonstrations
See also: Atoms
Nuclear physics examines the structure of atomic nuclei and the processes that occur within them. This category introduces ideas about nuclear stability, radiation, and energy release through fission and fusion. Understanding nuclear physics connects to questions of energy production, medical applications, and the natural origins of elements.
| Demonstration | Materials | Difficulty | Safety | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mousetrap Nuclear Fission | ★☆☆ | ★★☆ | ★☆☆ | An array of mousetraps loaded with ping pong balls is used to simulate a chain reaction, showing how one event can trigger many others in quick succession. The setup visually models nuclear chain reactions in a safe and dramatic way. |
| Simulating Radioactive Decay with Dice | ★☆☆ | ★☆☆ | ★☆☆ | This demonstration uses dice to represent unstable nuclei. By rolling the dice repeatedly and removing those that show a 6, students can model the random process of radioactive decay and visualize how the number of undecayed nuclei decreases over time, illustrating the concept of half-life. |
| Measuring Background Radiation | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★☆ | Students use Geiger counters to measure background radiation, analyze variation in results, and explore why scientists must account for natural background levels before measuring radioactive sources. |
| Atomic Spectra With a Diffraction Grating | ★★☆ | ★★★ | ★★★ | Using a diffraction grating and a gas discharge tube, you can observe the unique emission lines of different elements. These distinct line patterns reveal the quantized energy levels of electrons in atoms. |
| Cloud Chamber | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | A cloud chamber makes it possible to see the invisible tracks of cosmic rays and other charged particles as they pass through alcohol vapor. Using dry ice and isopropanol, students can build a detector that reveals trails left by subatomic particles. |
| Geiger Counter and Radiation Shielding | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | A Geiger counter is used to detect radiation from various sources. By placing paper, aluminum, and lead between the source and detector, students can compare the penetrating power of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. |
| Glowing Pickle | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | When an electric current passes through a pickle, ions in the salty brine conduct electricity, exciting sodium atoms that emit a bright yellow glow. This demonstrates ionic conduction, atomic emission spectra, and electrolysis. |
| Inverse-Square Law of Radiation | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | By measuring the number of radiation counts with a Geiger counter at different distances from a source, students can demonstrate the inverse-square law: radiation intensity decreases with the square of the distance from the source. |
| Measuring Radioactivity with a Geiger Counter | ★★★ | ★★☆ | ★★★ | Using a Geiger counter, radiation is measured from everyday objects such as a lantern mantle (thorium), a smoke detector (americium), and Fiesta ware (uranium). Additional natural sources like bananas (potassium-40) show that radiation is present in common materials. Shielding with lead illustrates how radiation can be blocked. |
Materials
★☆☆ Easy to get from supermarket or hardware store
★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
★★★ Requires materials not commonly found in school laboratories
Difficulty
★☆☆ Can be easily done by most teenagers
★★☆ Available in most school laboratories or specialist stores
★★★ Requires a more experienced teacher
Safety
★☆☆ Minimal safety procedures required
★★☆ Some safety precautions required to perform safely
★★★ Only to be attempted with adequate safety procedures and trained staff