An elective course “Nuclear Physics” was developed for high school students, including a traditional textbook, a computer application and various interactive educational materials and 3D models available on mobile devices using QR codes. The main idea of the course can be formulated as “From Nuclear Physics to Nuclear Technologies”. The elective course includes not only basic laws of nuclear physics, but also the application of these laws in nuclear astrophysics, in the synthesis of new elements, nuclear energy, nuclear medicine, ecology and radiobiology. Each chapter in the textbook provides links to additional digital materials: video lectures, examples of problem solving and additional materials for advanced study. At the end of the textbook, you can also find the references to a virtual practicum on nuclear physics, final tests, and approximate research and project works. The textbook pays special attention to the modern achievements of nuclear physics. It contains information of modern international experiments, conducted at JINR and other international scientific centers.
One of the ways to develop the school education in Russia is the proposal to introduce elective courses in priority development areas as pre-profile training. These courses are encouraged to be used in extracurricular activities. Elective course for high school students is a course which should be chosen by a student from several courses corresponding to their specialization. The purpose of elective courses is to deepen knowledge of basic academic subjects, the development of cognitive interests, skills and professional self-determination.
When developing such courses, it is necessary to take into account the difficulties that face the authors: the need to adapt quite complex material for high school students, which is traditionally studied in universities; a small number of training hours devoted to study; the need for professional training of teachers on the issues being studied. One of the ways to overcome these problems is to include in the course computer training tools that use the means provided by modern information technologies to visualize complex phenomena, processes, and modern technical devices.
The article is devoted to the elective course “Nuclear Physics” for high school students, which includes a traditional textbook, a computer application and illustrative materials, available on mobile devices through using QR codes. It is assumed that the course will be studied optionally in grades 10 or 11 for six months or the entire school year. At the same time, teaching materials were developed in such a way as to facilitate their use by the teacher and within the framework of the main course of physics in the study of the relevant sections and topics.
The main idea of the course can be formulated as follows: “From nuclear physics to nuclear technology.”
A team consisting of scientists and specialists from the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research
(JINR), teachers from the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (NRNU MEPhI) and
developers of the InterGraphics LLC worked on creating an elective course “Nuclear Physics” for high
school students. As a result of this collaboration, created course includes a traditional textbook [
In the textbook published by the Publishing House “Prosveshcheniye”, the content is divided into 11 sections. Each section ends with links to the materials of the computer application, and in the end of the textbook the topics for individual research works are given. These topics are currently very important, because with their help, students can implement their own project, which is mandatory for everyone under the new educational standards.
The computer application [
The full contents of the textbook are given below (fig. 2).
§ 1. Substance. Atoms and molecules § 2. Properties of chemical elements. The periodic system of D. I. Mendeleev
Tasks to the chapter Video lectures to the chapter
§ 3. The structure of the atom § 4. Isotopes § 5. The basic properties of nuclei Tasks to the chapter
§ 6. History of the discovery of radioactivity § 7. The law of radioactive decay. Types of decays § 8. Alpha, beta, and gamma decays § 9. Natural radioactivity. Radioactive rows Tasks to the chapter Video lectures to the chapter
Tests to the chapter
§ 10. The relationship of mass and energy § 11. Division and synthesis
§ 12. Nuclear reactions - the path to obtaining new items § 13. Laws of conservation in nuclear reactions § 14. Nuclear reactions under the action of charged and neutral particles § 15. Characteristics of a nuclear reaction Tasks to the chapter Video lectures to the chapter Additional materials
§ 16. The universe had a beginning § 17. The origin of the elements in the stars
§ 18. The reactions of the synthesis of new elements are heavier than uranium § 19. Experiments in finding the “island of stability.” Additional materials
§ 20. Cosmic radiation § 21. The effect of radiation and methods of protection against it
Video lectures to the chapter
§ 22. Nuclear power § 23. Nuclear medicine § 24. Nuclear technology in industry § 25. Radiocarbon dating Tasks to the chapter
Video lectures to the chapter
§ 26. Energy in human life § 27. Sources of energy on Earth and their comparative analysis
Tasks to the chapter
Video lectures to the chapter
§ 28. Colliders and puzzles of the Universe § 29. Neutron as an instrument of scientific research § 30. Heavy ions and the safety of manned flights to Mars § 31. Neutrino physics on Lake Baikal Additional materials
Sample topics for individual projects Virtual research workshop in nuclear physics Methodical materials for the workshop
Appendix 1. D.I. Mendeleev Periodic table of the elements
The figure 3 shows the double page of the textbook from the first section with the QR code referring the reader to the interactive periodic table.
Using the Internet links at the end of the section, the reader gets access to the materials of the computer application (fig. 4). Video lectures and examples of problem solving were recorded with the participation of teachers of the NRNU MEPhI who took part in the creation of this course.
Particular attention is paid to modern fundamental and applied research in the field of nuclear physics. High school students are told about the research carried out in large international research centers. For example, the textbook talks about nuclear astrophysics, nuclear planetology, experiments on the synthesis of new superheavy elements and the search for the stability island, nuclear energy and nuclear medicine, the method of nuclear carbon dating, etc. To facilitate understanding of these materials, using modern visualization and 3D modeling tools, multimedia educational resources have been developed, access to which can be obtained through the corresponding QR codes.
The virtual practicum on nuclear physics includes the following laboratory works: 1. Basic measurements in nuclear physics. Virtual laboratory work with an oscilloscope and a signal generator 2. Basic measurements in nuclear physics. Virtual laboratory work with a radioactive source 3. Interaction of charged particles with matter. Virtual laboratory work on measuring the spectrum of alpha particles (fig. 5 a)
At the end of the course, the high school students have the opportunity to pass the final quiz, which includes a large number of test materials of various types (fig. 5 b).
In 2019, the elective course “Nuclear Physics” was presented at the professional training courses for physics teachers at North Ossetian State University named after K.L. Khetagurova, at international schools for physics teachers at JINR and CERN. Teachers expressed great interest in the presented materials, and many of them plan to use materials of the course when organizing lessons and electives in their schools.