A Basic radiation-education method using a handy-type cloud chamber and natural radiation sources

Kushita, Kohei

At NuHRDeC/JAEA, many kinds of nuclear and radiation education have been conducted through its half-century history. High level education is required for the specialists of nuclear technology including nuclear power plants operators and engineers, while basic knowledge on nuclear energy and, especially, on radiations and radioisotopes should be given to school students and public. One of the useful basic experiments is the cloud chamber experiment. Using a new-type cloud chamber developed at NuHRDeC, we have further developed a new method so that the participants can more deeply understand the phenomena and the nature of radiation and radioisotopes. In this method, using a radiation source of natural uranium ore and gaseous radiation source containing Rn-220, trainees can not only observe the radiation tracks but also measure the length and count the number of the tracks. Then they can calculate the energy of the radiation (alpha ray) and can estimate the half-life of the radioisotope (Rn-220). This method can be applied for high-school and general university students as well as for the public as a useful and effective method in the radiation education.