This learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, looks at Melde's experiment. It uses the analogy of a standing wave in a stretched elastic cord before going on to introduce the idea of standing waves within an atom.

The activities include:
* Melde’s experiment
* electron waves in atoms...

This topic from the Institute of Physics, allow students to explore the topic of radiation. There are a series of learning episodes, each being a self-contained unit of learning that takes typically one or two lessons.

The learning episodes in this topic are:

Episode...

From the Institute of Physics, this learning episode introduces the ubiquitous nature of radioactivity and considers its detection. It draws on students’ previous knowledge, and emphasizes the importance of technical terminology.

The activities include:
• demonstrating the detection of background...

In this learning episode from the Institute of Physics, the properties of ionizing radiation are introduced through a consideration of safety.

Students consider the ionising property of different radiations in relation to how this makes them dangerous to living things. They see that radiation with...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students investigate the absorption of radiation and how this can be illustrated experimentally. The investigations look at sources of alpha and beta radiation. A model, looking at the absorption of light as it passes through successive microscope slides, is...

In this learning episode, produced by the Institute of Physics, students look at the decay processes that result in the emission of ionising radiation.

The activities in this learning episode include:
* looking at nuclide notation and N-Z plots
* types of decay processes
* practice...

From the Institute of Physics, these activities are not concerned with the products of radioactive decay but look at the random, spontaneous nature of radioactive decay and its consequences. The topic contains a series of learning episodes, each of which is a unit that lasts typically one or two lessons.

The...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students use discussion, demonstration and worked examples to look at the exponential decay and radioactive half-life of a range of nuclides. These include sources of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.

The activities in this learning episode include:...

Produced by the Institute of Physics, this learning episode will help students look mathematically at the meaning and relevance of the decay constant. A simple model is used to illustrate radioactive decay. The activities look at the decay constant and help students to link this with the half-life of an isotope....

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, mathematical ideas on radioactive decay are developed using logarithmic and exponential equations.

The activities look at:
* the exponential decay equation
* students questions using the decay equation
* radioactive decay used as a...

This topic, from the Institute of Physics, on particle acceleration and detection is useful as it illustrates many aspects of physics which students are likely to have studied. Students apply their knowledge of the motion of charged particles in electric and magnetic fields to particle accelerators and detectors....

Produced by the Institute of Physics, discussions and demonstrations encourage students to apply their knowledge of charged particles and fields to understand particle accelerators and detectors.

The activities in this learning episode look at:
* acceleration in an electric field
* researching...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students see how cloud and bubble chambers can be used to detect sub-atomic particles. It explores the principle that, in general, detectors work by analyzing particle collisions using conservation laws (momentum, energy, charge).

The activities in...

Produced by the Institute of Physics, this topic looks at Rutherford's experiments on scattering and how this leads to the nuclear model. The activities deepen their understanding by making use of ideas about electric fields. Students will be familiar with the nuclear model of the atom, in which the atom is...

In this learning episode, from the Institute of Physics, students look in detail at Rutherford’s experiment through discussion, demonstration and student experiment. The activities include: * discussing the significance of Rutherford’s experiment * demonstrating collisions and momentum * Rutherford scattering and...