Question detail
What is the definition of half-life in radioactive 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. The time taken for the count rate to double
- B. The time taken for the number of radioactive nuclei to halve
- C. The time taken for an unstable nucleus to decay completely
- D. The time taken for radiation to become safe
Answer
The correct answer is B: The time taken for the number of radioactive nuclei to halve.
Explanation
The correct answer is B: The time taken for the number of radioactive nuclei to halve. This supports the learning objective "Determine half-life from a table of count-rate or activity data." 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: The time taken for the count rate to double; The time taken for an unstable nucleus to decay completely; The time taken for radiation to become safe.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Half-Life Calculation
Students often confuse the half-life with the total decay time, thinking it represents the entire duration for a sample to decay completely.
Emphasize that half-life is the time taken for half of the radioactive nuclei to decay, not the time for the entire sample to decay.
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