The purpose of this activity is to introduce the students to the concept of radioactive decay and half-life. Through a hands-on data collection and analysis activity with M&M's, further experimentation via a computer model, and model verification with a radioactive isotope with a known half-life and decay constant, students develop an understanding of exponential decay.

TEACHER RESOURCES Teacher Materials Student Activity Learning Goals/Standards COMPUTER MODEL PC Format Mac Format STELLATM software AUTHORS Charlotte Trout   Williamsport HS   Williamsport, MD Sharon Walton   Watkins Mill HS   Gaithersburg, MD Cheryl Ware   Great Mills HS   Great Mills, MD

THE MODEL DIAGRAM THE EQUATIONS Dice_Remaining(t) = Dice_Remaining(t - dt) + (- Number_Removed) * dt INIT Dice_Remaining = 1000 Number_Removed = Dice_Remaining*Removal_Fraction Removal_Fraction = 1/2

THE OUTPUT

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