A Level Physics Radioactivity Spreadsheet

This resources allows A Level physics students to investigate radioactivity using a spreadsheet, specifcially to help cover specification point 6.4.3 g of the OCR Physics A course which requires students to model radioactive decay using a spreadsheet.

The spreadsheet does not hide any of its formulae, so it is a useful tool for students to see how the spreadsheet generates its data. There are 4 questions as part of the spreadsheet that students need to answer, so the activity can work well used in a computer room for a lesson or as a stand alone homework.

In my experience, this activity really enhances the students’ understanding of the exponential nature of the decay equations.