Physics Excursion to ANSTO

By Ms Georgia Reed, Physics Teacher

Earlier this term, Year 11 and 12 Physics students had the rare opportunity to visit an ANSTO (Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation) facility in Lucas Heights, NSW. This is Australia's premier nuclear research facility and the site of the country's only nuclear reactor, the OPAL (Open-pool Australian lightwater) reactor.

Upon arrival, students were immediately thrown into the learning with an introductory lecture by ANSTO Educational Officer Julie Mulholland. This included the use of animations, physical demonstrations with radioactive isotopes, and an insider look into the scientist's thinking, and breakthrough moments behind the events like the missing radioactive capsule in Western Australia last year.

Year 12 Physics students Terrance Mazanov and Marley Kowal-Buchanan assisted with demonstrations. Terrance helped the cohort collect quantitative data to determine the type of radiation using different shielding, and Marley used equipment that enabled students to determine the proportional relationships between distance and radiation intensity.

After lunch, students were divided into groups and taken on a tour of four different parts of the large campus. Heading back onto the bus, and through the AFP security check point, students were given a close look at the OPAL Reactor, the Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering (ACNS), Radiopharmaceutical Production Facility, and Centre for Accelerator Science (CAS).

Shyam Bhatia, the Year 12 Physics student who requested ANSTO as a possible activity for the semester, had this to share: I must say that I really loved being to be able to physically visit the nuclear facilities that directly relate to the physics unit that we are learning. I found seeing the different instruments and the tandem accelerator to be so cool and unique as it allowed us to actually understand in detail how things work and their function in the field of physics.

Students were accompanied by Year 12 Physics teacher Ms Georgia Reed, Year 11 Physics teachers Mr Ross Bristow and Dr Tyson Peppler, and emerging Physics enthusiast and Biology teacher Miss Lauren Hayward.

The ANSTO Educational Officers thanked the College and stated that they were impressed by the students' insightful questions.