A sample of a radioactive isotope is described as random and spontaneous. Explain what is meant by the decay being random.
A sample of a radioactive isotope is described as random and spontaneous. Explain what is meant by the decay being spontaneous.
Radioactive isotope X has a half-life of $1.4$ hours. At the start, a pure sample of isotope X has an activity of $3.6 \times 10^{5}\,\text{Bq}$. Determine the activity of isotope X in the sample after $2.0$ hours.
The change with time $t$ of the actual activity $A$ of the sample in (b) is shown in Fig. 12.1. The initial activity of isotope X in the sample is $3.6 \times 10^{5}\,\text{Bq}$. Use information from (b) to sketch, on the axes of Fig. 12.1, the change with time $t$ of the activity of a pure sample of isotope X.
Suggest a reason for any difference between the actual activity of the sample shown in Fig. 12.1 and the curve you have drawn for the activity of isotope X.