Gamma Ray Teacher Resources

A gamma-ray burst might have caused the mass extinction 450 million years ago. The video introduces the concept of gamma rays and gamma-ray bursts. Then it explains what happens if they were to hit Earth and why we can't prepare for any...

What do you get when you combine the Cold War with black holes? You get one of the greatest scientific mysteries in the history of astronomy! Pupils discover how our quest to keep the Soviet Union from launching nuclear weapons helped to...

Sometimes the best discoveries happen by chance. Scientists did not plan to find gamma-ray bursts, but that doesn't make the revelation less important! A video lesson in the SciShow Space series discusses the discovery of gamma-ray...

In this power law function worksheet, students use data from the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space telescope to apply the power law function to physical phenomena. Students use a graph to solve four problems.

A Geiger counter is used to detect emission of alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. The teacher experiments to find out which materials block each of these forms of radiation. The camera is focused on the measuring instrument...

Scientists have theorized about the merging of stars based on scientific theories and mathematical principles. For the first time, observation has confirmed these theories. Viewers share in the excitement of the discovery as they watch...

Add a little drama to the classroom with this clip on Neutron stars. Gamma ray bursts are examined in relation to their effect on the earth. This is a hypothetical, informative, and very dramatic clip. Show for fun, to help learners...

Astronomers practice downloading data from a high-energy satellite and translate the data into colored or shaded pixels. As a hands-on activity, they use pennies to simulate high-energy satellite data and they convert their penny...

In this gamma-ray worksheet, students read about the Fermi Gamma-ray Observatory and how it measures the invisible lumps in space. Students solve 3 problems using an equation to determine the time that gamma-rays travel in space and the...

In this light spectrum worksheet, students will read a diagram and a chart listing information about the different types of light rays from Gamma rays to radio waves. Then students will write a short essay about a new life-form that...

Why do atoms break down? Scholars learn about radioactive decay as part of the larger Chemistry PowerPoints series. They differentiate between fission and fusion and alpha or beta particles, as well as gamma rays. Diagrams show how atoms...

Young scholars study an article on Gamma Rays.  In this investigative activity students study the energy and wavelengths of gamma rays and the theories behind them. 

In 1896, Henri Bacquerel discovered uranium is radioactive and gives off rays. The video serves as a presentation on alpha, beta, and gamma rays. It explains their Greek symbols, what they are, and their relative mass and charge. It...

Radiation hazards are the subject of a short video that also includes a comparison of alpha, beta, and gamma rays, and the hazards if people ingest or absorb these rays through the skin.

How does ionizing radiation affect living cells? Learners explore the types of radiation using diagrams in a presentation that is part of the Chemistry PowerPoints series. They learn how alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays...

Learn about gamma rays and red shift, what they are, what they mean, and how scientists use them to measure distances between objects in space. This clip explains how important red shifted gamma rays are to science and how illusive they...

Imagine a presentation that covers electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic radiation, radio waves, microwaves, the visible light spectrum, UV, X-ray, and gamma rays. Here's one. Packed with facts and colorful illustrations, 11-slide...

Young scholars explore the concept of gamma ray bursts. They examine basic physics concepts about light, measure the shifts of spectral lines, and utilize Hubble's Law to deduce the velocity of an astronomical object.

In this cosmic bar graph worksheet, students solve 2 problems using given bar graphs that plot the number of galaxies vs. the galaxy type and the number of gamma-ray bursts vs. the burst classification. Students find the fraction of...

For this time intervals worksheet, students solve 8 problems where they determine the time gamma-ray bursts last, the time black hole micro-flares are emitted, the time coronal mass ejections travel and the days between lunar phases of...

Explore the science of radioactivity! A very thorough video lesson begins with an explanation of the chemical structure of radiation. It includes descriptions of benefits of radioactivity and half-life calculations.

Through colorful diagrams and simple text, viewers are introduced to nuclear radiation. They discover alpha, beta, and gamma rays; they balance nuclear equations. You will impart important information to your chemistry class and give...

As physics masters view this presentation, they learn how nuclear power is used in submarines. They use Google Maps to plot a course through the ocean and calculate the time required for surfacing and traveling. They learn about fission,...

Viewers learn about both natural and synthetic radiation in a video that discusses background radiation from cosmic rays, as well as from radioactive waste, radioactive fallout, and x-rays. It concludes with an explanation of alpha,...