Educational Technology for Laboratory Experiments in Nuclear Physics and Related Sciences

Abstract

In this work, we present a prototype of a Nuclear Radiation Counter simulator, targeted to laboratories teaching Nuclear Physics and related sciences, both in universities and high schools. Its usage is also possible in research centers, for personnel ramp up and training. This equipment simulates data based on real experiments for the elaboration of representative characteristic curves corresponding to different radioactive sources, allowing to experiment without manipulating real radioactive elements. By incorporating this simulator in the multidisciplinary teaching and learning processes in STEM fields, it is possible to run these tests in a simple manner using non-radioactive materials. This, in turn, eliminates the risks inherent to the manipulation of radioactive sources, and reduces the costs and complexity of doing these experiments. Doing experiments allows theoretical contents to be applied in practical situations that lead to involvement in the research, interpretation, integration and communication processes of the obtained results. Simulating the experiments enables to obtain the same experiences for both the student and the professor, especially in situations where it would be significantly more difficult to do the real experiment. This will facilitate sharing knowledge of Nuclear Physics beyond the local scope of the university.

Keywords

• learning
• simulator
• technology
• experiments
• nuclear energy