Question detail
Which of the following best describes the relationship between half-life and the rate of decay?
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. Short half-lives indicate slower decay rates.
- B. Long half-lives indicate faster decay rates.
- C. Short half-lives indicate faster decay rates.
- D. Half-life has no relation to decay rates.
Answer
The correct answer is C: Short half-lives indicate faster decay rates..
Explanation
The correct answer is C: Short half-lives indicate faster decay rates.. 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: Short half-lives indicate slower decay rates.; Long half-lives indicate faster decay rates.; Half-life has no relation to decay rates..
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.
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