KJM4900 – Radioactivity
Course description
Course content
The course gives a broad introduction to radioactivity and the application of radioactivity. It is for anyone wanting to know what radioactivity and ionizing radiation are and how it can be used. The course is recommended for everyone who intends to work with nuclear and radiochemistry, but also for persons who are going to work with radioactivity and radioactive material in related fields, e.g. medicine, biotechnology, chemistry, pharmacy, geology, physics, etc. The course is also relevant for students who just want an introductory course in this challenging field. In addition to basics, we touch upon many different subjects, e.g. nuclear reactors, fission, fusion, nuclear medicine, the formation of the elements in cosmos, super-heavy elements, nuclear bombs, accelerators, etc.
Learning outcome
After completing the course, you will:
- know what radioactivity is and how it arises
- know radioactivity in nature and why it is there
- know fundamental concepts e.g. half-life, radioactive series and isotope generators
- have fundamental understanding about what a nucleus "looks like" (shell model, liquid drop model, magic numbers)
- understand disintegration processes, nuclear reactions, and fission
- know the fundamental principles for a nuclear reactor and the different problems around them (criticality, waste, security)
- understand on a fundamental level how radioactivity is used in medicine for diagnosis and therapy (nuclear medicine)
- know typical examples of how radioactivity is used in research and industry
The objective is to give the students a basis for using radioactivity and related radiation in different types of activity in a versatile and competent way. The course is recommended for everyone who is going to use radioactivity in their MSc or PhD, regardless of topic.
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for?in Studentweb.
Nordic citizens and applicants residing in the Nordic countries may?apply to take this course as a single course student.
The course has a capacity of 30 students. Applicants are prioritized in the following order:
- Students continuing?their master studies in the research section Environmental Science
- Students who will be working with radioactivity in their research project at UiO
- Students who will be working with radioactivity in their research project outside of UiO
Recommended previous knowledge
KJM1002 – Introduction to Chemistry or equivalent
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with KJM3900 – Radioactivity.
- 10 credits overlap with KJM5900 – Radioactivity (discontinued).
Teaching
The course consists of 14?days of teaching (once a week) which normally looks like this:
- Morning lecture? (09:15-10:15)
- Project work and/or calculation exercises (10:30-12:00)
- Afternoon lecture (12:45-13:30)
- "Today's Special". Lecture/exercise/group work/etc. (13:45-15:00)
- Self study without teaching assistant (15:00-16:00)
The classroom teaching consists of lectures, exercises, and small projects. A project assignment needs to be completed during the semester and needs to be approved before?you can sit for the final exam.
The course operates with a "obligatory point system" where attendance in activities is awarded points. You will need at least 160 points in order to sit for the exam. Many of these points you get when working with the obligatory project.
Completed and approved obligatory project is valid for six semesters beyond the semester it was approved. After this period, you must complete the obligatory project again to be able to sit for the final examination.
It is mandatory to attend the first lecture (including students on the waiting list). If you are unable to attendthe first lecture, you must notify the Department of Chemistry before the start of the lecture, otherwise your course registration will be cancelled.
Examination
- Final written exam, 4 hours, which counts 100 % towards the final?grade.
This course has mandatory exercises that must be approved before you can sit the final?exam.
It will also be counted as one of the three attempts to sit the exam for this course, if you sit the exam for one of the following courses: KJM3900 – Radioactivity
Examination support material
- Chart of nuclides with booklet?(must be brought by the candidate)
- Approved calculator (only in Norwegian)
Language of examination
You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.
Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.