Acquiring an unnecessary radioactive source inventory is discouraged in the 21st century. A laboratory using radioactive sources present in our environment was developed to observe nuclear decay and transport phenomena. Progeny of radon-220 and radon-222 were collected using electrostatic techniques and observed with both a NaI(Tl) well counter spectrometer and a cloud chamber. The spectrometer recorded six ten-minute spectra, followed by four five-hour spectra, which were used to identify radon progeny based on decay emissions' characteristic energy and radionuclide half-lives. Radon progeny deposited on the end of a wire formed a short-lived, pointlike source of high energy alpha particles for the cloud chamber. Radon-220 itself was introduced into the cloud chamber, so that gas diffusion, linear energy transfer, and radioactive decay chains could be observed and discussed. A video presentation of these experiments was created for remote instruction during the pandemic.

Laboratory Instruction Using Radon and Its Progeny

(BD) Best Practices in Educational Technology I

technical paper

AAPT meetings are a great way to reflect on your teaching, recommit to best practices and re-energize your career with new research, products, and techniques. Listen to internationally known plenary speakers, attend sessions, workshops, and special activities. This meeting is an excellent opportunity to share your expertise and learn from and network with leaders in the field.



AAPT SM 22

AAPT meetings are a great way to reflect on your teaching, recommit to best practices and re-energize your career with new research, products, and techniques. Listen to internationally known plenary speakers, attend sessions, workshops, and special activities. This meeting is an excellent opportunity to share your expertise and learn from and network with leaders in the field.

Jeffrey Radtke

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Laboratory Instruction Using Radon and Its Progeny