Radiation and the atom

On Mars there is no thick air and no magnetic field to stop the particles that stream in from the Sun and the galaxy. This topic starts with what everything is made of and climbs to atoms, nuclei, kinds of radiation, doses, and how many metres of soil keep a city safe.

8 levels. The ages are only a rough guide for parents and teachers; anyone can start at any level.

Level	Rough age	What it covers
Level 1: What things are made of	5-6	Tiny pieces, mixing and separating
Level 2: Sunlight you cannot see	7-8	Ultraviolet light, sunburn, why Mars has no ozone shield
Level 3: Atoms	9-10	Atoms and elements, what Mars rocks are made of
Level 4: Inside the atom	11-12	Protons, neutrons, electrons, isotopes
Level 5: Kinds of radiation	12-13	Alpha, beta, gamma, cosmic rays, what stops each one
Level 6: Doses	13-14	Sieverts, the dose on the way to Mars and on its surface (Curiosity's RAD)
Level 7: Shielding	15-16	Half-value thickness, water and regolith shields, how deep to build
Level 8: Nuclear physics	17 and beyond	Binding energy, fission, fusion, radioisotope power, dating Mars rocks