Question detail
How does the activity of a radioactive substance with a long half-life change over time?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Atoms and nuclear radiation
Question
- A. It decreases rapidly.
- B. It remains constant.
- C. It decreases slowly.
- D. It increases steadily.
Answer
The correct answer is C: It decreases slowly..
Explanation
The correct answer is C: It decreases slowly.. This supports the learning objective "Compare short and long half-lives in terms of activity change over time." in Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay because it uses the correct atomic and nuclear radiation relationship for Atoms and nuclear radiation. The other options are less suitable because they do not match the required Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay idea: It decreases rapidly.; It remains constant.; It increases steadily..
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Half-Life Effects
Students often confuse the concept of half-life with the total decay time, thinking that a shorter half-life means the substance will completely decay faster than it actually does.
Emphasize that half-life is the time taken for half of the radioactive nuclei to decay, and that multiple half-lives are required for a substance to decay significantly.
Related flashcards
Flashcard 1 of 5
Related practice questions
Question 1 of 5
Choose an answer, get feedback, then move sideways through the set.