exhibit models radioactive decay of nuclei and fundamental
particles with wooden cubes. There are 100+ hardwood cubes each
with one side painted red. These cubes are placed into a wicker
bowl and tossed onto a table. The cubes that land red side up
are removed and placed into one column at the bottom left edge
of the table. The smaller number of remaining cubes are then
placed into the basket and tossed again. The cubes that land
with their red side up are removed again. The process continues
until there are no The exhibit teaches about half-life; half of
all the remaining cubes "decay" after every 3 tosses. The
decreasing columns of cubes show an exponential decay in height.
This exponential decay results from the constant 1 in 6
probability that each cube will decay on each throw. The random
fluctuations in the height of each pile are also visible in the
non-smooth profile of a curve connecting the heights of the
columns of cubes. The crash of the cubes from the basket is such
an interesting sound that youn