Radioactivity

Lecture 2
Syllabus and Logistics of Class
 Syllabus Prerequisites:
High school physics
High school algebra

• Class Requirements and Schedule:

• To cover the broad range of material the course will be offered in four topical sections that address the
science and scientific effects of radioactivity, as well as the environmental consequences and the
societal impact of its growing number of applications
• The class will be offered twice a week so that each of these topics can be discussed in one 90 minute
class session. The grade will be determined by participation in discussion, by quizzes on the class
material, by homework results and by the results of the mid-term and final exam (essay). Prerequisites
are high-school physics and high-school algebra. To allow room and time for discussion the number of
participants is limited to 24 students.
• There is no textbook available at this level. Lecture notes will be prepared and will be posted for each
class topic. A list of supplementary reading material will be provided

• Class Grades:
• Weekly quizzes 10%; Homework 20%; Midterm Exam 30%; final exam or essay 20%; participation 20%

• Honor Code:
• “This class follows the binding Code of Honor at Notre Dame. The graded work you do in this class must
be your own. In the case where you collaborate with other students make sure to fairly attribute their
contribution to your project.”
 Topics to be discussed
1. The phenomenon of radioactivity
1.1. The discovery of radioactivity
1.2. The nature and detection of radioactivity
1.3. The physics of radioactive decay
1.4. Natural and induced radioactivity
1.5. Dosimetry and exposure limits
1.6. The biological impact of radioactivity
2. The origin of radioactivity
2.1. The origin of the elements
2.2. The radioactive universe
2.3. The radioactive earth
2.4. Geological implications and consequences
2.5. The human radioactivity cycle
2.6. The origin and evolution of life
3. The environmental impact of radioactivity
3.1. Atmospheric Radioactivity
3.2. Radioactivity in agriculture
3.3. Radioactivity in building materials
3.4. Radioactivity and natural resources
3.5. Radioactivity and renewable energy
3.6. Radioactivity and nuclear energy
4. Societal impact of radioactivity
4.1. Radioactivity in the industrial production process
4.2. Radioactivity in the art market
4.3. Radioactivity and medical applications
4.4. Radioactivity and homeland security
4.5. Radioactivity in war
4.6. Radioactivity and fear
 People to be asked

Michael Wiescher
NSH 181
Wiescher.1@nd.edu

Micha Kilburn Jacob Allen

NSH 180D NSH 103
mkilburn@nd.edu Allen.143@nd.edu
Books to be read
Website to be consulted

isnap.nd.edu/courses/radioactivity-and-its-implications-for-environment-and-society/

All lectures, homework sets, and other course notes will be placed here!
 Michelle Christine Acabado ENGL / MANT 02
Geoffrey Allman NONE 01
Ilianna Almada PSY / ROS2 / MBEC 02

Class List Jacob

Austin
Bailey
Bai
Benvegnu
Boesch
ECON
NONE
NONE
01
01
02
Allie Braschler NONE 01
Michael Briody NONE 01
John Cresson NONE 01
Evan DaCosta POLS 01
Christopher Garbasz NONE 01
Matthew Hardiman ECON 01
Mary Henrichs FTT 01
Mario Kafati Simon NONE 01
Mitchell Koppinger NONE 01
Harrison Lacy NONE 01
Nicholas Marr POLS 01
Thomas Mologne NONE 01
John Morris ECON 01
John O'Neill POLS 01
Carlo Perri POLS 01
Ryan Rogers NONE 01
Isabel Rooper NONE 01
Jacob Rush NONE 01
Benjamin Shepard NONE 01
Grace Steffens ENGL 01
Audrey Steiner MUS 01
Kelli-Ann Tanaka IEJA / MSOC 02
Owen Ulicny POLS 01
Colin Vaughan IERL 01
Nicole White AMST 02
Colleen Wiechart IEAR 02
Charles Wolfe NONE 01
Natural Radioactivity Projects to be
considered
• Natural Radioactivity
• The origin of the radioactive elements
• The phenomenon of cosmic radiation
• Cosmogenic and radiogenic activity
• Solar and geo neutrinos
• Radiogenic heat and mantle convection
• Radioactivity in oceans and volcanoes

• Biology and Radioactivity

• The human radioactivity cycle
• Radioactivity and mutation
• Bystander effects
• Radioactivity and hormesis
• History and reason for LNT threshold
• Dose and death
Anthropogenic Radioactivity Projects to be
considered
• Enriched Radioactivity
• Mining and Burning of fossil fuel
• Uranium mining
• Geothermal heat
• Building materials
• Soil and plant up-take of
• Fertilizers and agriculture
• Anthropogenic Radioactivity
• The physics of fusion and fission
• Nuclear fall-out from bomb and reactor
• The nuclear test program
• Radioactivity in diagnostics and treatment
• Radioisotopes for (wo)mankind
• Radioactivity, industry, and industrial methods
 Class schedule (before break)
8/23/2016 Tuesday Introduction, Overview, Summary
8/25/2016 Thursday Organisation, Class Plan, Syllabus
8/30/2016 Tuesday The Discovery of Radioactivity, Science and Applications
9/1/2016 Thursday The Physics of radioactive Decay
9/6/2016 Tuesday The Nature and Laws of Radioactivity
9/8/2016 Thursday Detectors and Instrumentation
9/13/2016 Tuesday Dosimetry and Exposure Limits
9/15/2016 Thursday Biological Impact of Radioactivity
9/20/2016 Tuesday The Origin of radioactive Elements
9/22/2016 Thursday The Radioactive Universe
9/27/2016 Tuesday Radioactive Earth
9/29/2016 Thursday Geological Implications and Consequences
10/4/2016 Tuesday The Human Radioactivity Cycle
10/6/2016 Thursday The Origin and Evolution of Life
10/11/2016 Tuesday Atmospheric Radioactivity
10/13/2016 Thursday Mid-Term Exam
10/18/2016 Tuesday
Fall Break
10/20/2016 Thursday
 Class Schedule (after break)
10/18/2016 Tuesday
Fall Break
10/20/2016 Thursday
10/25/2016 Tuesday Radioactivity in Agriculture
10/27/2016 Thursday Radioactivity in Building Materials
11/1/2016 Tuesday Radioactivity in Natural resources
11/3/2016 Thursday Radioactivity and Renewable Energy
11/8/2016 Tuesday Radioactivity and Nuclear Energy
11/10/2016 Thursday Issues of long-term Storage
11/15/2016 Tuesday Radioactivity in Industry
11/17/2016 Thursday Radioactivity in the Art Market
11/22/2016 Tuesday
Thanksgiving Break
11/24/2016 Thursday
11/29/2016 Tuesday Radioactivity in Medicine
12/1/2016 Thursday Radioactivity and Homeland Security
12/6/2016 Tuesday Radioactivity and War
12/8/2016 Thursday Radioactivity and Fear
Exams and Grades
• Weekly quizzes 10%;
• Homework 20%;
• Midterm Exam 30%;
• final exam or essay 20%;
• participation 20%
Question and Answers