Detect alpha, beta, and gamma radiation

Activity 1: Basic principles of radiation

Students understand the basic principles of ionizing radiation using a PowerPoint presentation.

Activity 2: Measure environmental radiation

Students measure background radiation on the lower and upper floors of a building to investigate the fact that  radiation is present in their environment and varies from place to place.

Activity 3: Analyze data to determine radiation exposure

Students analyze data using a Power BI dashboard to determine the radiation that they are exposed to in their daily  lives and that ISS astronauts aboard are exposed to. They compare radiation exposure across a variety of scenarios to  gain an understanding of the scale and extent of environmental radiation.

Activity 4: Understand alpha, beta, and gamma radiation

Students learn about alpha, beta, and gamma radiation and the randomness of radioactive decay using a PowerPoint   presentation.

Activity 5: Measure alpha, beta and gamma radiation

Students use Uranium ore as a radiation source to determine which kinds of radiation it produces.

Activity 6: Recommend radiation shielding materials

Students test several additional materials for their ability to block radiation. They make a recommendation of materials to test for radiation shielding on future missions.