Left arrow black
Back to simulations

Introduction to Radioactive Decay Virtual Lab

A meteor has crashed to Earth! Search the crash site with a Geiger counter, and bring a radioactive sample back to the lab. Learn all about types of decay, decay series, and half-life. Help Dr. One and Marie Curie figure out what’s in that rock.

Try for FreeTry for Free
Green Checkmark Icon

High School

Green Checkmark Icon

University / College

Logo Taylor's UniversityArizona State University LogoLogo uOttawaLogo Univ. Essex
Labster is used by 1000s of amazing schools and universities
Learn more
Blue Arrow Right
 
Introduction to Radioactive Decay

About this Simulation

Radiation has huge importance in the modern world. Used in medicine, energy, and the military, its impact on society and the future of science can’t be overstated. After harvesting a radioactive sample from a fallen meteor, you will start with the fundamentals, learning about the atom, stability, and the origins of radioactive decay. You will explore the futuristic lab guided by a pioneer of the field of radioactivity: Marie Curie. You will move on to more complex ideas, such as decay series and half-life. Then apply what you’ve learned and produce a graph to determine the half-life and the identity of your radioactive rock sample. 

Introduction

The simulation opens with a bang as a meteor crashes to Earth. After heading back to the Lab and being introduced to one of the most celebrated radiation scientists - Marie Curie - you build your own nuclei using the Lab’s interactive and futuristic Holo-table.    

Visualise radiation

In our virtual environment, you are able to take a deep dive into the atomic world, and safely see how radioactive decay works. Three animations and minigames enable you to understand the concepts of alpha, beta, and gamma decay in an interactive and fun way. As you’re eager to identify your rock sample, you learn the fiddly topic of decay notation and balancing equations in an engaging way. Decay series Your first test is to track the decay path of a neptunium isotope as it ejects radiation. By playing another minigame, you  discover what happens to radioactive nuclides as they decay, and thereby expand on the idea of decay types. After succeeding in this notoriously tricky task, you move on to a second test, getting to grips with half-life, the last step before being able to identify your sample.

Half-life

Fear not, Dr. One is here to help you visualize the concept of half-life! By representing radioactive atoms as coins on a desk, this complex and abstract concept becomes  much simpler and tangible, and easier to understand. After plotting the results of the coin-flip experiment on a graph you are presented with one final task. You must deduce the half-life of your sample, and thereby its identity, before you can proudly report your findings back to Madame Curie! 

Learning Objectives

At the end of this simulation, you will be able to:

  • Compare different types of radioactive decay and balance the respective nuclear decay equations using nuclide notation

  • Calculate the half-life of a radioisotope

  • Explore the concept of a radioactive decay series

Techniques in Lab

At the end of this simulation, you will be able to:

How do virtual labs work?

Engage students in science through interactive learning scenarios. Simulate experiments, train lab techniques, and teach theory through visual experiences that enhance long-term learning outcomes.

Green Checkmark Icon

300+ Web-based simulations that can be played on laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets/iPads without installing any software

Green Checkmark Icon

Teacher dashboard to automate grading and track student progress

Green Checkmark Icon

Embedded quizzes to help students master science content

Green Checkmark Icon

Library of learning resources, lab reports, videos, theory pages, graphics and more

Book a Free Consultation

Relevant Course Packages

All Course Packages
Black arrow right

Get Started Now!

Try Labster with your students right away.
Green Checkmark Icon

Track student progress

Green Checkmark Icon

Assess with embedded quiz questions

Green Checkmark Icon

Invite your students to play simulations

Green Checkmark Icon

Explore over 300 Labster simulations

Green Checkmark Icon

30 days for free, no credit card needed

Start your free trial today to discover the possibilities with Virtual Labs

Integrate with your LMS

Labster integrates with all major LMS (Learning Management Systems) so that educators can use their gradebooks to track students’ performance data and students can keep a record of their work. Labster is compatible with Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, Google Classroom, Schoology, Sakai, and Brightspace / D2L. It’s also possible to use Labster without an LMS.

How to Integrate Your LMS
Blue Arrow Right

Frequently asked questions

What do students learn in the "Introduction to Radioactive Decay" simulation?
What is the simulated Chemistry scenario in this virtual lab?
What other Chemistry labs does Labster offer?