Curated OER
Frosty the Snowman Meets His Demise: An Analogy to Carbon Dating
Learners read and discuss an article about carbon dating, then participate in a hands-on lab to discover how carbon dating works. Students also write a letter to a friend explaining the process, and how archeologists use the process to...
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
Rain Shadows and Sea Breezes
Students plot the average rainfall for a variety of cities in the United States. Using the map, they work together to determine patterns on which toxicants are transported through the air. They determine the impacts of various weather...
Curated OER
How does Nuclear Fission differ from Nuclear Fusion?
Students examine concepts of nuclear chemistry. They compare and contrast the topics of nuclear fission and nuclear fision. They predict the outcome of reactions based on the types of emissions and reactants.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Radioactive Data
Students examine actual radioactive decay data collected in an honors chemistry class to find an equation which best fits the data and allows a person to predict the count after certain periods of time have elapsed. Students review all...
Physics Aviary
Physics Aviary: Practice Problems: Decay Constant and Half Life From Table
Determine the decay constant and half-life of an isotope based on the activity data of the isotope as a function of time.
Other
Milton J. Rubenstein Museum: Determining the Age of Rocks and Fossils [Pdf]
This set of activities from the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology has students investigating how relative dating and absolute dating methods are used to determine the age of rocks and fossils.
Other
University of Waikato: Science Learning Hub: Absolute Dating
Explains what absolute dating is as compared to relative dating and how they can work together. The characteristics of several different radiometric methods are compared. Includes three short videos and an interactive where students...