Substitute coins for radiation.

Throwing 100 coins, removing all those that come up tails, and placing them in piles gives us a hands-on model for radioactive decay. The piles graphically show the meaning of the term half-life.

At least 100 pennies. The chance that any [...]

See pictures in thin air.

When you view a slide show or a movie, where is the picture? Is it on the film, in the air, on the screen, or in the eye of the viewer? This Snack will help you investigate and understand how you see. [...]

Objective:
To demonstrate the concepts of exponential radioactive decay and half life in a hands – on and graphical manner.

Standards:
Energy in the Earth System (internal sources of energy – radioactive decay) and Origin and Evolution of the Earth System (geologic dating methods).

Materials:
One hundred pennies and a container to hold [...]