Radioactive decay is both random and spontaneous. State what is meant by random.
Radioactive decay is both random and spontaneous. State what is meant by spontaneous.
Define half-life.
Data for the binding energy per nucleon of the particles involved in the decay of a nucleus of polonium-193 are given. Determine the energy, in $\text{eV}$, released when a nucleus of polonium-193 decays into a nucleus of lead-189.
A pure sample of polonium-193 contains $N_0$ nuclei. After a time $t$ the sample contains $N$ nuclei of polonium-193. The variation of $\ln\left(\frac{N}{N_0}\right)$ with $t$ is shown in Fig. 9.1. State the name of the quantity that is represented by the magnitude of the gradient of the line in Fig. 9.1.
Use Fig. 9.1 to determine the half-life, in ms, of polonium-193.
Positron emission tomography (PET scanning) uses a radioactive tracer. State what happens to the positrons emitted by the tracer.
Explain why a tracer with a half-life of approximately 2 hours is a suitable tracer to use.