You may be part of a group for the first part of this exercise. Each group should carry out the experiment and collect the data together, but each student must record the data in his or her own booklet. Be sure to record the data exactly as you observe them. After the data has been collected, each student should answer the questions independently.

After you have finished your experiment and have recorded all of the data, you will be asked to answer some questions about the experiment and the data you recorded. Your answers must be written in this test booklet in the space provided. Make sure that you understand each question before you begin to write. At any time while you are writing your answers, you may look back to the directions for the experiment and the data you collected. Be sure that your answers are written as clearly and neatly as possible.

Before you turn the page, read the list of materials given below and check to make sure that your group has everything listed.

With a greater demand for alternative sources of energy, we have turned toward using the energy released when radioactive atoms decay. One problem with using nuclear energy is disposing of the nuclear waste products. Spent fuel rods still contain some dangerous radioactive atoms. These radioactive atoms will decay over time into non-radioactive daughter atoms. This may take hundreds or even thousands of years.

Although it is impossible to predict when any individual atom will decay, scientists are able to estimate the time it takes for one-half of a sample of radioactive atoms to decay. This is called the half-life. As an example, a radioactive form of iodine (I-131) has a half-life of 8 days. This means that if you started with one gram, after eight days about one-half of the sample would have decayed into daughter atoms. The purpose of this activity is to help you understand the concept of radioactive decay and half-life. Since it is not possible to use radioactive atoms in this activity, you will use a model system to simulate the process.

In this simulation the green beads will represent the radioactive atoms and the white beads will represent the stable, non-radioactive daughter atoms.

1. Place 100 green beads in one cup and 100 white beads in a second cup. Note the time on the clock and record this in Table 1.

2. Take eight green beads out of the cup and replace them with eight white beads. This will represent the decay process. Record eight as the number of green beads removed in Sample 1 of your data table. Place the green beads in the empty plastic cup so you do not lose them.

3. Cover and shake the cup containing the green and white beads several times to mix them. Without looking, remove another eight beads (this time you may be removing both green and white beads). Count the number of green beads in this sample and record this number under Sample 2 in the data table. Place the green beads in the third cup. Return any white beads drawn to the cup of mixed green and white beads. Replace the green beads you removed from the cup with an equal number of white ones to maintain 100 beads in the mixing cup.

4. Repeat Step 3 until you have taken a total of 50 green beads from the mixing cup. Each time count and record the number of green beads in the sample you removed from the mixing cup, removing the green beads drawn and replacing them with white beads.

5. Once your group has had 50 green beads "decay," note the time and determine the elapsed time from when you started. Record this in the data table.

6. After you have taken the 50 green beads from the cup, separate the green beads from the white beads. You should again place them in two separate cups, one with 100 green beads and one with 100 white beads.

7. Do the simulation over again, removing 4 beads per sample. Keep removing beads until you have taken 50 or until you have taken 20 samples, whichever comes first. Follow the exact same mixing and sampling procedure as you did before in Steps 2-6. Record all values in the data table.

Table 1

1. On the graph paper below, make a graph for each of your samples showing the relationship between the number of green beads remaining in the cup (y-axis) and the sample number (x-axis). Construct both graphs using the same axes. Be sure to label your axes and provide a legend. The graphs represent the decay curve for your samples.
   
2. Assume that one minute equals 100 years and that the sample needs to decay to 1/16 of its original amount to be considered "safe." You now have to safely dispose of your radioactive samples. Choose one of your samples. Explain (1) how many years you would have to be concerned about the radioactivity of the sample, and (2) how you would dispose of this material. Be sure to justify your responses.

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