Nuclear Waste Half-Life Lab
One of the biggest challenges facing nuclear energy is the problem of how to deal with the waste. Spent fuel has been accumulating in dry cask storage at the world's nuclear facilities for decades, and no long-term disposal plan has established by the scientific community. In this lab, students will use colored water to simulate the decay of Strontium-90, while doing some calculations to see how long it takes the radioactive isotope to become harmless.
Essential concepts: Nuclear waste, radioactive half-life.
