Question detail
What happens to the mass number during alpha 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. It increases by 4
- B. It decreases by 4
- C. It remains unchanged
- D. It decreases by 2
Answer
The correct answer is B: It decreases by 4.
Explanation
The correct answer is B: It decreases by 4. This supports the learning objective "Describe count rate as the number of counts detected each second or each minute." in Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation 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 Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation idea: It increases by 4; It remains unchanged; It decreases by 2.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Count Rate
Students often confuse count rate with total counts over time, thinking it represents the total number of counts detected rather than the rate at which counts are detected.
Emphasize that count rate is defined as the number of counts detected per second or per minute, and practice converting total counts into a rate by dividing by the time period.
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