Question detail
What happens to the count rate of a radioactive sample after one half-life?
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 remains the same
- B. It doubles
- C. It decreases to half its initial value
- D. It increases
Answer
The correct answer is C: It decreases to half its initial value.
Explanation
The correct answer is C: It decreases to half its initial value. This supports the learning objective "Explain why the half-life of a radioactive isotope can be estimated from a large sample." 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 remains the same; It doubles; It increases.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Half-Life Estimation
Students often think that the half-life of a radioactive isotope can be determined from a single measurement of activity rather than from a large sample over time.
Emphasize that half-life estimation requires multiple measurements to observe the decay pattern, allowing for a more accurate average half-life calculation.
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