Exam-style question
Try this first
Which of the following statements correctly describes the decay constant (λ) in radioactive decay?.
- A.It is the time taken for half of the nuclei to decay.
- B.It is the probability per unit time that a nucleus will decay.
- C.It is the total number of nuclei present at any time.
- D.It is the energy released during decay.
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- It is the probability per unit time that a nucleus will decay.
Explanation
Why this works
The decay constant (λ) represents the likelihood of a single nucleus decaying in a given time period, making it a crucial parameter in characterizing the decay process.
Common mistake
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