Chemistry - Grades 10 -12
*112.45  The student is expected to:
c1A demonstrate safe practices during field and laboratory investigations
c1B make wise choices in the use and conservation of resources and the disposal of materials
c2A plan and implement investigative procedures including asking questions, formulating testable hypotheses, and selecting          equipment and technology.
c2B collect data and make measurements with precision.
c2D organize, analyze, evaluate, make inferences, and predict trends from data.
c2E communicate valid conclusions.
c3A analyze, review and, critique scientific explanations as to their strengths and weaknesses.
c3B make responsible choices in selecting everyday products and services using scientific information.
c3C evaluate the impact of research on scientific thought, society, and the environment.
c6A describe the existence and properties of subatomic particles.
c9A evaluate environment issues associated with the storage, containment, and disposal of nuclear wastes.

Computer Science 1 - Grades 9-12
*126.22  The student is expected to:
c4A use LANs and WANs, including the Internet, in research and resource sharing.
c4B construct appropriate electronic search strategies in the acquisition of information.
c11A publish information in a variety of ways including printed copy and monitor displays.

• Students will study literature to see what shielding is used in the nuclear industry and why it is necessary.
• Students will learn how a Geiger counter works and how to operate it safely.
• Students will construct charts and graphs using data generated from the investigation.
• Students will form conclusions based on observations and data analysis.
• Students will develop questions related to the initial investigation.
• Students will develop procedures for testing their questions.
• Students will work as a team to accomplish their goals.
• Students will communicate the results of their investigations to the rest of the class.
• Students will correlate their investigations and their knowledge of existing methods to offer an opinion about the best protection against nuclear radiation.
  

• Students will be able to graph and compute data.
• Students should have a basic knowledge of the types of radiation.
  

__Geiger counter or Geiger tube or computer probe
__Radioactive source - gamma emitter of about 5000 cpm or greater
__Metal plates about 2" by 2" -several of each type of metal
__Computer Internet and/or reading materials on radioactive shielding

Preparation:

1. Discuss radioactive materials and safe handling of them.
2. Demonstrate the use of the Geiger counter probeware.
3. Allow the sstudents to do research on such topics and nuclear power plants, nuclear accidents such as Chernobyl and 3-mile Island, transport of radioactive materials, and radioactive waste disposal.

Classroom management:
Groups of four - if only one experimental setup is available, the other groups could be involved in literature search while waiting to use the equipment.

Questions to investigate:

1. Does the type of material effect the amount of gamma ray shielding?
2. What is the relationship between the thickness of the shielding materials and the amount of shielding?
3. How can radioactive materials be handled safely?

Data Collection:

1. Record the background radiation.
2. Place a gamma source at a distance which gives a reading of about 5000 cpm.
3. Take data for a predetermined amount of time.
4. Each group should choose a type of shielding material to test. Place one piece of the material between the source and the Geiger tube and take data for the same amout of time as before. Do not move either the source or the Geiger tube.
5. Add an additional piece of the same material  and repeat the same procedure.
6. Continue until all of the pieces of the shielding material have been measured.
7. Each group can test a different shielding material.

Calculations:

1. Organize the data into charts and graphs.
2. Draw a line graph to represent the correlation between thickness and radiation transmitted.
3. Draw a bar graph to represent the comparisons between the various material's shielding effectiveness.
4. Compare each group's results.

Communicate results:

• Each group will decide upon which format they will use to report to the class. Include the question they investigated and the conclusions drawn.
• Each student will write a short paper giving his/her opinion of the best method of shielding against radioactivity  using  a combination of the results of the literature research and the in-class laboratory findings to support the choice.

Individual student papers will be judged upon:

• the extent of the literature search.
• clarity of expression.
• practicality of choice of materials (expense, avialability, etc.).
• supporting evidence for choice of method, citing conclusions from laboratory activity.

The group will be judged upon:

• the proper use of the Geiger tube.
• the thought put into developing questions and procedures for testing the questions.
• the work as a team.
• the quality of the data and graphs produced
• the effective communication of the results.