Binding blocks: Building the Universe one nucleus at a time

C. Aa Diget; A. Pastore; K. Leech; T. Haylett; S. Lock; T. Sanders; M. Shelley; H. V. Willett; J. Keegans; L. Sinclair; E. C. Simpson; The Binding Blocks Collaboration

doi:10.1088/1361-6552/aa550c

Binding blocks: Building the Universe one nucleus at a time

C. Aa Diget, A. Pastore, K. Leech, T. Haylett, S. Lock, T. Sanders, M. Shelley, H. V. Willett, J. Keegans, L. Sinclair, E. C. Simpson, The Binding Blocks Collaboration

Physics

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

We present a new teaching and outreach activity based around the construction of a three-dimensional chart of isotopes using LEGO^® bricks⁵. The activity, binding blocks, demonstrates nuclear and astrophysical processes through a seven-meter chart of all nuclear isotopes, built from over 26 000 LEGO^® bricks. It integrates A-Level and GCSE curricula across areas of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and chemistry, including: nuclear decays (through the colours in the chart); nuclear binding energy (through tower heights); production of chemical elements in the cosmos; fusion processes in stars and fusion energy on Earth; as well as links to medical physics, particularly diagnostics and radiotherapy.

Original language	English
Article number	024001
Number of pages	7
Journal	Physics Education
Volume	52
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6552/aa550c
Publication status	Published - 13 Feb 2017

Access to Document

10.1088/1361-6552/aa550c

Cite this

@article{d24a55ddc8364bc0b10ef126d09ca9a4,

title = "Binding blocks: Building the Universe one nucleus at a time",

abstract = "We present a new teaching and outreach activity based around the construction of a three-dimensional chart of isotopes using LEGO{\textregistered} bricks5. The activity, binding blocks, demonstrates nuclear and astrophysical processes through a seven-meter chart of all nuclear isotopes, built from over 26 000 LEGO{\textregistered} bricks. It integrates A-Level and GCSE curricula across areas of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and chemistry, including: nuclear decays (through the colours in the chart); nuclear binding energy (through tower heights); production of chemical elements in the cosmos; fusion processes in stars and fusion energy on Earth; as well as links to medical physics, particularly diagnostics and radiotherapy.",

author = "Diget, {C. Aa} and A. Pastore and K. Leech and T. Haylett and S. Lock and T. Sanders and M. Shelley and Willett, {H. V.} and J. Keegans and L. Sinclair and Simpson, {E. C.} and {Binding Blocks Collaboration}, The",

year = "2017",

month = feb,

day = "13",

doi = "10.1088/1361-6552/aa550c",

language = "English",

volume = "52",

journal = "Physics Education",

issn = "0031-9120",

publisher = "IOP Publishing",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Binding blocks

T2 - Building the Universe one nucleus at a time

AU - Diget, C. Aa

AU - Pastore, A.

AU - Leech, K.

AU - Haylett, T.

AU - Lock, S.

AU - Sanders, T.

AU - Shelley, M.

AU - Willett, H. V.

AU - Keegans, J.

AU - Sinclair, L.

AU - Simpson, E. C.

AU - Binding Blocks Collaboration, The

PY - 2017/2/13

Y1 - 2017/2/13

N2 - We present a new teaching and outreach activity based around the construction of a three-dimensional chart of isotopes using LEGO® bricks5. The activity, binding blocks, demonstrates nuclear and astrophysical processes through a seven-meter chart of all nuclear isotopes, built from over 26 000 LEGO® bricks. It integrates A-Level and GCSE curricula across areas of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and chemistry, including: nuclear decays (through the colours in the chart); nuclear binding energy (through tower heights); production of chemical elements in the cosmos; fusion processes in stars and fusion energy on Earth; as well as links to medical physics, particularly diagnostics and radiotherapy.

AB - We present a new teaching and outreach activity based around the construction of a three-dimensional chart of isotopes using LEGO® bricks5. The activity, binding blocks, demonstrates nuclear and astrophysical processes through a seven-meter chart of all nuclear isotopes, built from over 26 000 LEGO® bricks. It integrates A-Level and GCSE curricula across areas of nuclear physics, astrophysics, and chemistry, including: nuclear decays (through the colours in the chart); nuclear binding energy (through tower heights); production of chemical elements in the cosmos; fusion processes in stars and fusion energy on Earth; as well as links to medical physics, particularly diagnostics and radiotherapy.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85012979463&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.02296

U2 - 10.1088/1361-6552/aa550c

DO - 10.1088/1361-6552/aa550c

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85012979463

SN - 0031-9120

VL - 52

JO - Physics Education

JF - Physics Education

IS - 2

M1 - 024001

ER -

Binding blocks: Building the Universe one nucleus at a time

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this