Physics 9702 · AS & A Level · Radioactive decay

Radioactive decay — practice question

Radon-222 ($^{222}_{86}\text{Ra}$) is a radioactive gas whose decay is random, with decay constant of $7.55 \times 10^{-3}\,\text{hour}^{-1}$.
(a(i))[1]

State the meaning of random decay.

(a(ii))[2]

State the meaning of decay constant.

(b)[5]

The radon gas activity in a sample of air from a building, taken from $4.80 \times 10^{-3}\,\text{m}^3$ of air, is $0.600\,\text{Bq}$. A volume of $1.00\,\text{m}^3$ of air contains $2.52 \times 10^{25}$ air molecules. Calculate, for $1.00\,\text{m}^3$ of the air, the ratio $$\frac{\text{number of air molecules}}{\text{number of radon atoms}}.$$

Worked solution & mark scheme

This 8-mark question has a full step-by-step worked solution and mark scheme. One marking point: decay cannot be predicted / is unpredictable

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