Discovery

When did human discover such a thing called radiation? How did we know that a nucleus contains protons, neutrons? Who and when were these discoveries made??? A detailed outline of the history of radioactiviy is right here.

In this section, we will take a look at how the structures of a nucleus was first discovered. Then we will move on to the discovery of radioactivity, and later how people made use of this science. We have also included a full explanation of the various experiments the physcists performed which led them to these discoveries.

Alpha.Beta.Gamma

In 1899, Ernest Rutherford discovered that uranium compounds produce three different kinds of radiation. He separated the radiations according to their penetrating abilities and named them alpha (a), beta (b), and gamma (g) radiation, after the first three letters of the Greek alphabet.

In this section, we will first introduce to you the source of radiation, and the apparatus used in detecting radiation. Then we will investigate their distinctive properties by performing various experiments. And finally, a summary of their properties.

Radioactive Decay

There are about 1700 isotopes among the elements, only 300 of them are stable and the rest are radioactive. Among those 1400, 40 of them are found in nature, usually from elements with atomic numbers of 82 or higher.

In this section, we are going to investigate the decay process, including decay equations of alpha, beta and gamma radiations as well as the half-lives of radioisotopes.

Application

In addition to understanding the principle of how things work, it is also important for us to know how to apply the knowledge in our daily life.

In this section, we are going to look at the daily applications of radiation in various fields, including agriculture, archaeology, industry, medicine, military affairs.

Nuclear Energy

A huge amount of energy is released when a heavy nucleus splits up into two smaller nuclei ( nuclear fission) or when two light nuclei come together to form a heavier nucleus ( nuclear fusion). The energy released becomes a very valuable source of energy, known as nuclear energy, nowadays as the non-renewable fossil fuels are running out.

In this section, we will briefly discuss the above processes and the related theories.

Hazard

Despite its numerous contributions to human, nuclear power has potential disastrous consequences if it is not properly handled. Nuclear hazards mainly include nuclear reactor accidents and mishandled nuclear wastes, in which radiation is released and cause much harm to human and the environment.

In this section, we are going to take a look at the two main hazards mentioned, as well as some ways to protect ourselves from radiation.

Background radiation

We ourselves are continously emitting radiation. Things around us, such as food, building materials are also radioactive. The radiation they released is known as background radiation.

In this section, we will discuss the sources of background radiation, both natual and man-made. We will also take a look at the dose and its effects on human body.

Interactive

In this section, you will find all the activities here are, as stated, interactive. We have an online laboratory where you can perform experiments; a radioactiviy quiz to test your understanding on radioactivity; a forum for you to exchange views towards this potentially beneficial but also potential hazardous science. Moreover, we have designed a game for measuring the effective dose received by you under different environments.