A complete, ready-to-teach lesson for AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464) Physics, TP4 Atomic structure (AQA topic 21, section 6.4), lesson: Radioactive Decay and Nuclear Radiation (specification 6.4.2.1). It also suits the same content in AQA GCSE Physics (8463).

Students work out how engineers could find a leak in a pipe buried under a road, learn that unstable nuclei decay randomly, tell activity from count-rate, meet alpha, beta, gamma and neutron radiation, compare their ionising power, penetration and range in air, and choose the right radiation for the tracer.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Radioactive Decay and Nuclear Radiation lesson PowerPoint (19 teaching slides + 1 hidden teacher guide slide), fully editable
• Lesson companion worksheet: 7 questions that follow the slides, each one tagged with its slide number (PDF + editable Word)
• Companion answer key (PDF + editable Word)
• Key terms and things to remember sheet: 8 key words, equations (marked Recall or Equation sheet), things to remember and common mistakes to avoid (PDF + editable Word)

LESSON STRUCTURE

• Do Now: Retrieval: the nucleus, isotopes, ions and energy transfer
• Hook: How can engineers find a leak in a pipe buried under a road without digging?
• Objectives: Grade 4, 6 and 8-9 outcomes
• Teach: Unstable nuclei and random decay; activity and count-rate; sort; the four types of nuclear radiation; hinge; ionising power; penetration and range in air; we do: choosing the tracer; video
• Check: True or false, tiered questions and an AQA-style exam question
• Stretch: Why thick lead reduces gamma radiation but never stops all of it (beyond the specification)
• Review: Exit ticket and confidence check

FEATURES

• Original diagrams of the buried pipe and tracer, the four types of nuclear radiation leaving a nucleus, ionisation along an alpha track and a gamma path, and typical ranges in air
• Click-to-reveal answers and animations on every key slide
• Do Now retrieval quiz, hinge question and true/false misconception check
• Bronze, silver and gold tiered practice with answers
• Original exam-style question in AQA format (01.1 numbering, [n marks]) with a mark scheme
• Grade 9 stretch task with a model answer
• Exit ticket and confidence check
• Teacher notes on every slide, plus a hidden teacher guide with timings and resources
• Embedded YouTube video (optional; it plays from the slide when online):
  • Freesciencelessons: GCSE Physics Revision ‘Radioactivity’

TIMING: about 67 min with the video, 62 min without it. The video is optional.

All questions are original and written to match the AQA specification. This resource is not endorsed by or affiliated with AQA.

Pairs with the TP4c Topic Mastery Pack for homework and revision. Save more with the full TP4 bundle.