ParticleAdventure.org

Today, we need to move beyond simple (?!) theory to the actual nuts and bolts of physics in the 21st century.  To do that, you are going to checkout ParticleAdventure.org, a site designed to teach modern physics in plain English.  The ideas are still complex, but they transition us from one force application (radioactivity) to an experience of the four main forces in physics today.   Use this site and the accompanying webquest to help you in your journey. 

Half-life (not the game)

The thing is, radioactivity is very much a game of probability. Something might decay, or, it might not. And no one can tell when exactly it will happen.

Here are some common half-life values. What types of questions do they raise for your table? Brainstorm on a whiteboard some of those ideas.


Thorium-229 7,340 years
Thorium-232 14,100,000,000 years
Lanthanium-137 60,000 years
Thorium-230 75,380 years
Oxygen-15 122.24 sec
Oxygen 19 26.464 sec
Carbon 14 3700 years