Discrete energy and Radioactivity

Understandings (Discrete Energy):

• Discrete energy and discrete energy levels
• Transitions between energy levels

Applications and skills:

• Describing the emission and absorption spectrum of common gases
• Solving problems involving atomic spectra, including calculating the wavelength of photons emitted during atomic transitions

Understandings (Radioactivity:

• Radioactive decay
• Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays
• Half-life
• Absorption characteristics of decay particles
• Isotopes
• Background radiation

Applications and skills:

• Describing the Rutherford-Geiger-Marsden experiment that led to the discovery of the nucleus
• Completing decay equations for alpha and beta decay
• Determining the half-life of a nuclide from a decay curve
• Investigating half-life experimentally (or by simulation)

Guidance:

• Students will be required to solve problems on radioactive decay involving only integral numbers of half-lives
• Students will be expected to include the neutrino and antineutrino in beta decay equations