Curated OER
Radioactive Decay and Half-Life
Students describe how the mass of a radioactive isotope changes with time and the factors that affect the rate of radioactive decay. They write nuclear decay equations to represent natural transmutation. This activity is accomplished...
Teach Engineering
Common and Natural Logarithms and Solving Equations
Log some practice with logarithms. A PowerPoint presentation provides a tutorial on the change of base formula involving natural logarithms and solving exponential equations with logarithms in the fourth installment of a seven-part...
Curated OER
Worksheet Two
In this math worksheet, students solve differential equations. Students use similar equations, and analyze ways they differ from one another. Students draw directional fields and sketch solutions. The final three questions are...
Curated OER
Get a Half-Life!: Student Worksheet
In this math/science worksheet, young scholars will work in pairs to conduct an experiment based on a decay function which is often used to model radioactive decay. Students will shake M & M's in a cup to rub off the M and then...
Illustrative Mathematics
Accuracy of Carbon 14 Dating II
The scientific issue of carbon-14 dating and exponential decay gets a statistics-based treatment in this problem. The class starts with a basic investigation of carbon content, but then branches out to questions of accuracy and ranges of...
Curated OER
Get a Half Life!
Eighth graders use M&M's to experiment with data. They use a graphing calculator to determine the best equation for their data; linear, quadratic or exponential. They analyze the data to find the half-life of their M&M's.
Curated OER
Nuclear Chemistry
Students write and balance nuclear equations. In this chemistry instructional activity, students identify materials that block radiation using polymers. They collect and analyze data from the experiment.
Curated OER
Chemical Formulas
Here is an interesting lesson plan which invites learners to focus on understanding and interpreting the symbols used in writing and communicating information about chemical elements, compounds, and equations. The hope is that this...
Curated OER
Get a Half-life!
Students explore decay functions and the half-life of a substance. Through an M&M activity with calculators, students collect and graph data. They determine the linear, quadratic and exponential functions of the graph. Students...
Curated OER
A Geological Puzzle
Students compare and contrast the various types of rocks on each continent. In groups, the calculate the rock ages and types to determine if the continents, in their opinion, were joined at one time. They develop two imaginary...
Curated OER
Get a Half-life!
Students use m&m candies as their sample set. They begin by counting the total number of candies to determine their sample size. Students put the candies into a cup and shake them gently before pouring them onto a paper plate. Count...