Radioactive Change: Simulating Random Radioactive Decay
Purpose: To model random radioisotopic decay.
What you need: 30-60 coins. Graphing package or graph paper.
Use the method of graphing described in the simulation of half-life. Start with a pile of at least 30 coins. Count them and write down the number. These are your original radioactive atoms ("parent" atoms).
PROCEDURE:
First Half-life
Go through the coins one at a time, flipping each one. If the coin comes up heads, put it in a new pile. These are atoms that have decayed ("daughter" atoms).
If the coin comes up tails, put it in a third pile. These are atoms that are unchanged. When you have gone through the original pile once, one half-life has passed. Count and record the number of coins in the parent pile.
Decay Continues
During the second half-life, flip the coins from the "parent" pile. Whenever a coin comes up tails, put it in the daughter pile. If it comes up heads, put it in a new parent pile.
When you have flipped all the coins from the parent pile, count and record the number in the new parent pile.
Repeat this several times.
Make a Graph
Make a graph showing the number of atoms remaining after each half-life. Connect your points with a smooth curve. Compare your graph with other students' graphs.
Adapted from Victor A. Schmidt (1986). Planet Earth and the New Geoscience, (first edition). Kendall-Hunt.
Last modified: Tue Sep 22 21:33:24 1998