Nuclear Energy
Study Design
- explain why some atomic nuclei are stable and others are not;
- describe the radioactive decay of unstable nuclei in terms of half-life;
- model radioactive decay as random decay with a particular half-life, including mathematical modelling in terms of whole half-lives;
- apply a simple particle model of the atomic nucleus to the origin of α, β and γ radiation, including changes to the number of nucleons;
- describe the detection and penetrating properties of α, β and γ radiation;
- describe the effects of α, β and γ radiation on humans, including short- and long-term effects from low and high doses, external and internal sources, including absorbed dose (Gray), dose equivalence (Sieverts) and effective dose (Sieverts);
- describe the effects of ionising radiation on living things and the environment;
- explain nuclear transformations using decay equations involving α, β and γ radiation;
- analyse decay series diagrams in terms of type of decay and stability of isotopes;
- describe natural and artificial isotopes in terms of source and stability;
- describe neutron absorption as one means of production of artificial radioisotopes;
- identify sources of bias and error in written and other media related to nuclear physics and radioactivity;
- describe the risks for living things and/or the environment associated with the use of nuclear reactions and radioactivity