Nuclear radiation can be incredibly dangerous, but it can also be incredibly useful to us. The Shedding Light on Nuclear Radiation series teaches students what nuclear radiation is and how humans have harnessed its awesome power.
Episode 1: Atomic Structure
In Episode 1: Atomic Structure, we lay down the foundations on which the series is built: what atoms are made of and how atoms differ. We look at protons, neutrons, and electrons and at isotopes and nuclides.
Episode 2: Alpha Radiation
In Episode 2: Alpha Radiation, we look at what alpha particles are, introduce students to nuclear equations, and show how alpha-emitting substances are used to power space probes and to treat certain types of cancer.
Episode 3: Beta-Minus and Gamma Radiation
In Episode 3: Beta-Minus and Gamma Radiation, we look at what beta-minus and gamma radiation are and at how they are put to good use in medicine and in industry.
Episode 4: Beta-Plus Decay
In Shedding Light on Nuclear Radiation Episode 4: Beta-Plus Decay, we introduce students to beta-plus particles, also known as positrons. Beta-plus particles are a form of anti-matter. Though beta-plus particles don’t really exist in huge quantities naturally on Earth, scientists have learned how to actually make atoms that emit them! Beta-plus particles have now become a major tool for doctors to diagnose a wide variety of cancers.
Episode 5: Half-Life and Activity
In Episode 5: Half-Life and Activity, we examine how quickly radiation is given off by radiation-emitting substances. Some radioactive substances emit lots of radiation in a short amount of time while others emit radiation very slowly. These different rates of emission can be expressed in a quantitative way using the concepts of “half-life” and “activity”.
Episode 6: Radiocarbon Dating
In Episode 6: Radiocarbon Dating, we examine how quickly radiation is given off by radiation-emitting substances. Some radioactive substances emit lots of radiation in a short amount of time while others emit radiation very slowly. These different rates of emission can be expressed in a quantitative way using the concepts of “half-life” and “activity”.
Episode 7: Natural Radioisotope Production
Where do all the naturally occurring radioisotopes that exist on Earth come from? How were they formed? And do they have any practical uses? Shedding Light on Nuclear Radiation Episode 7: Natural Radioisotope Production brilliantly answers these questions. It begins by describing how cosmic rays produce a wide variety of radioisotopes on Earth. It then explains the big bang theory, nuclear fusion, what supernovas are and how they create new atoms, how stars and planets form, decay chains, and rock dating. This video takes us on a journey from a single proton to the whole universe!
Episode 8: Synthetic Radioisotope Production
In In Episode 8: Synthetic Radioisotope Production, we describe how particle accelerators (including linear particle accelerators and cyclotrons) and nuclear reactors are used to produce synthetic radioisotopes that have a wide variety of uses in medicine and in industry.
Episode 9: Radiation Dose
In In Episode 9: Radiation Dose, we take an in-depth look at the different types of radiation that can cause atoms to ionize. We explain that since different types of ionizing radiation have different ionizing abilities and that different tissues of the body have different susceptibilities to ionizing radiation, scientists have developed three closely related ways of expressing radiation dose: absorbed dose, equivalent dose, and effective dose.
Episode 10: Radiation Safety and Protection
In Episode 10: Radiation Safety and Protection, we look at how much radiation dose humans typically receive from both natural and artificial sources of radiation and then explain the health issues that can arise when a person’s exposure to radiation is too high.
11: Calculating Equivalent and Effective Doses of Radiation
Episode 11: Calculating Equivalent and Effective Doses of Radiation teaches students how to calculate equivalent dose and effective dose to assess radiation exposure risks. It covers absorbed dose, the impact of different radiation types, and how organ sensitivity influences overall risk. Step-by-step examples make these calculations easy to follow!
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