Half life (Edexcel GCSE Physics): Flashcards
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12 cards from this deck
Half-life definition
Half-life definition
Time for half of unstable nuclei in a sample to decay
Unit for measuring radioactive activity
Unit for measuring radioactive activity
Becquerel (Bq)
What does 1 Bq mean?
What does 1 Bq mean?
One decay per second
Activity change after one half-life
Activity change after one half-life
Decreases by half
Is radioactive decay predictable for one atom?
Is radioactive decay predictable for one atom?
No, it's a random process
Can we predict decay of many atoms over time?
Can we predict decay of many atoms over time?
Yes, we can predict group behaviour
Unstable nuclei count after one half-life
Unstable nuclei count after one half-life
Reduced by half
Activity 600 Bq, what after 1 half-life?
Activity 600 Bq, what after 1 half-life?
Bq
Activity 600 Bq, what after 2 half-lives?
Activity 600 Bq, what after 2 half-lives?
Bq
How to find number of half-lives passed?
How to find number of half-lives passed?
Divide total time by half-life period
How to find half-life from a decay graph?
How to find half-life from a decay graph?
Find time for count to halve from initial value
40,000 nuclei, 4 half-lives later?
40,000 nuclei, 4 half-lives later?
2,500 nuclei