Radioactive decay (AQA GCSE Physics): Quizzes
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12 questions from this quiz
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Practise the questions
12 questions from this quiz
What is radioactive decay?
What is radioactive decay?
Unstable nuclei giving out radiation
Why can we not predict when a specific nucleus will decay?
Why can we not predict when a specific nucleus will decay?
The process is random
What does activity measure in radioactive decay?
What does activity measure in radioactive decay?
Nuclei decaying per second
What does 1 becquerel (Bq) equal?
What does 1 becquerel (Bq) equal?
1 nucleus decaying per second
How is activity related to the number of unstable nuclei present?
How is activity related to the number of unstable nuclei present?
Directly proportional
Why does the activity of a radioactive source decrease over time?
Why does the activity of a radioactive source decrease over time?
Unstable nuclei decay into stable ones
What shape is the graph of activity against time?
What shape is the graph of activity against time?
Curved line starting high, dropping
In alpha decay, how does the nucleus change?
In alpha decay, how does the nucleus change?
Mass down by 4, charge down by 2
In beta decay, how does the nucleus change?
In beta decay, how does the nucleus change?
Mass stays same, charge up by 1
In gamma decay, how does the nucleus change?
In gamma decay, how does the nucleus change?
No change in mass or charge
What is a Geiger-Müller tube used for?
What is a Geiger-Müller tube used for?
Detecting nuclear radiation
Which types of radiation can a GM tube detect?
Which types of radiation can a GM tube detect?
Alpha, beta, and gamma