Question detail
What does a shorter half-life of a radioactive isotope indicate about its activity?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation
Question
- A. It decreases quickly over time.
- B. It remains constant for a long time.
- C. It increases steadily.
- D. It is not related to activity.
Answer
The correct answer is A: It decreases quickly over time..
Explanation
The correct answer is A: It decreases quickly over time.. This supports the learning objective "Link half-life to how quickly activity decreases." in Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes because it uses the correct atomic and nuclear radiation relationship for Hazards and uses of radioactive emissions and of background radiation. The other options are less suitable because they do not match the required Different half-lives of radioactive isotopes idea: It remains constant for a long time.; It increases steadily.; It is not related to activity..
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Half-Life
Students often confuse half-life with the total time it takes for a radioactive substance to decay completely, rather than understanding it as the time taken for half of the substance to decay.
To fix this, students should focus on the definition of half-life and practice problems that illustrate how after each half-life, only half of the remaining substance decays.
Related flashcards
Flashcard 1 of 5
Related practice questions
Question 1 of 5
Choose an answer, get feedback, then move sideways through the set.