Question detail
What is the nature of 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. It is a predictable process
- B. It is a random process
- C. It occurs at a constant rate
- D. It only occurs in certain elements
Answer
The correct answer is B: It is a random process.
Explanation
The correct answer is B: It is a random process. This supports the learning objective "Explain that radioactive decay changes the nucleus of an atom." 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 is a predictable process; It occurs at a constant rate; It only occurs in certain elements.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Radioactive Decay
Students often think that radioactive decay is a predictable process, believing they can determine exactly when a specific nucleus will decay.
Emphasize that radioactive decay is a random process, and while the half-life can be estimated for a large sample, the exact moment of decay for an individual nucleus cannot be predicted.
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