 |
|
|
 |
Nuclear science at the Powerhouse |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
ANSTO scientists are studying the air trapped in Antarctic ice to reveal past climates and predict possible future global temperatures.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At Nuclear Matters, visitors will find out what it takes to design and operate the OPAL nuclear reactor.
|
|
|
|
With the launch of OPAL, Australia's new nuclear research reactor in April and intense debate about nuclear power, it seems nuclear is the 'it' topic of the moment. But how well informed are you about all things nuclear?
The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation - ANSTO - has teamed up with the Powerhouse Museum to present the Nuclear Matters exhibition, due to open in August. Velocity has a sneak peek at some of the topics the exhibition will cover:
Everyday radioactivity
"We live in a bath of natural and artificially produced radiation and radioactivity," explained Martha Halliday, who coordinates education at ANSTO. "One of the first things visitors will learn is that lifestyle, where we live, and the number and type of health treatments we have determines the amount of radiation we are exposed to over a year.
"Our bodies can cope with this everyday level of radiation from our environment and lifestyle."
At this exhibit visitors will learn:
- Where does their radiation dose come from?
- What is the difference between non-ionising and ionising radiation?
- What is considered a safe dose?
Visitors will guess 'what's radioactive and what's not' from a range of everyday things and experiences. As they make each choice they will find out how much each source of ionising radiation contributes to their annual dose.
Nuclear reactors
Both modern power and research reactors are designed for safe operation. And if you think the multi-tasking in your life can cause a headache, spare a thought for the designers of nuclear reactors!
At this exhibit, visitors will find out what it takes to design and operate the OPAL nuclear reactor.
See if you have the skills to discover the secrets of the reactor and generate a powerful enough neutron beam to keep the researchers happy, irradiate silicon for the highest quality electronics and make radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat patients.
And find out how multi-functional OPAL compares to much larger one-purpose power reactors.
Ask an isotope
This interactive model will feature a table of nuclides and periodic table, and reveals the relationship between the family of elements and each element's close relatives, its isotopes.
"The table of isotopes is really a roadmap of nuclei," explained Martha. "While each element is distinguished by the number of protons in its nucleus, each isotope has a different number of neutrons."
Learn about the nucleus and how neutrons determine isotopes and protons determine elements. Build your own isotope by dragging protons and neutrons to the nucleus, or take part in the particle accelerator shoot out.
"You can also play nuclear decay snakes and ladders, and name that date, the carbon dating game. This is a really fun and easy to understand exhibit!" said Martha.
Past climates, future lives
Long ice cores drilled out of thick glaciers can be thought of as kilometre-long time machines. The ice captures pollen, volcanic ash and radioactivity blown onto the surface of the ice between snowfalls. The air trapped in the ice contains chemicals and isotopes which record the make-up of the atmosphere over thousands to hundreds of thousands of years in the past.
"We can study the air inside the ice to reveal past climates and predict possible future global temperatures," explained Martha.
"At this exhibit visitors learn about the different information scientists can gain from different layers of the ice core (which represent different time periods), and how they put this information together to relate it to today's conditions."
Nuclear Matters will open in late August as part of the Ultimo Science Festival. Entry will be free with museum entry. For more information check www.powerhousemuseum.com
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
Nuclei of stable isotopes last forever but radioactive isotopes are destined to change |
 |
 |
|
Groups of atoms of each radioactive isotope are like clocks that tick at their own characteristic rates. Each tick marks the decay of one atom - its nucleus absorbs or emits a particle and becomes an isotope of another element |
|
|
|
The time it takes half of the atoms to tick away (decay) is called the half-life of that isotope |
|
|
|
Each isotope has a different half-life, ranging from fractions of a second long to billions of years |
|
|
|
Radioactive half-lives can be used to measure how old things are. |
|
|
|
 |
|
Get it delivered
Learn how Australia's science in motion makes a difference to daily lives. Sign up today. Why sign up?
|
|
|
 |
|
