Physics Project

Welcome the fifth edition of Inreach Physics! We are working on a Generation IV Nuclear Reactor (“Gen IV”) related project again this term. However this term,  we are looking at thorium and it’s suitability as a replacement for uranium in nuclear reactors.

Physics Project: Thorium: An Advanced Nuclear Fuel Source 

As always, we will provide students and teachers with reference material and links to items related to the project. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook for immediate access. The links to both are on the right of the page.

Week 10: Data Interpretation/Homework

Click on the link for the data for homework. This is an excel file: Data Tables

Week 8: Power History

Week 7: Modelling

Week 6: Neutron Flux

Week 5: Transmutation

Week 4: Quantum Mechanics of Nuclear Decay

Week 3: Nuclear Decay

 And here is a shortcut to the homework assignment:

Week 2: Nuclear Reactors

 

Week 1: Introduction to the Project and Nuclear Power

 

Links for the Curious Mind…

How much radiation is the average person exposed to? The creator of xkcd.com put together a Radiation Dose Chart which gives a good overview of radiation, from eating a banana, to standing next to the Chernobyl reactor after the explosion. Check out the Radiation Dose Chart

One of our favourite videos: a popular black sand beach in Brazil, which happens to be radioactive. Watch and listen to the Geiger counter as it picks up the natural thorium in the sand:

Another really interesting natural occurrence: Oklo Natural Nuclear Reactor, located in Oklo, Gabon, Africa.
Click here if you want to learn more: Oklo’s Natural Fission Reactors

Serge Haroche and David J. Wineland, winners of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physics. They found ways to measure quantum particles without destroying them.

Got Quantum on the Mind?
In 2012 CBC’s Massey Lectures featured “The Universe Within: From Quantum to Cosmos” with Neil Turok, Director of the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. The link will take you to the podcast which you can download. This is a fascinating series on quantum physics and quantum computing. Also, don’t forget to check out the PI YouTube channel.

 

 

If you have any questions about the research or the Inreach program, feel free to contact Seana Jones, Inreach Director, at seana dot jones at drsa dot ca.