Physics 9702 · AS & A Level · Radioactive decay

Radioactive decay — practice question

Iodine-131 $\left(^{131}_{53}\text{I}\right)$ is a radioactive isotope, and its decay constant is $9.9 \times 10^{-7}\text{ s}^{-1}$.
(a(i))[2]

State the meaning of radioactive.

(a(ii))[2]

State the meaning of decay constant.

(b)[2]

A sample of water has been contaminated with iodine-131. The activity of the iodine-131 in $1.0\text{ kg}$ of water is $560\text{ Bq}$. Determine the number of iodine-131 atoms in $1.0\text{ kg}$ of water.

(c)[3]

The regulations say that the activity of iodine-131 in $1.0\text{ kg}$ of water must be below $170\text{ Bq}$. Calculate the time, in days, for the activity of the contaminated water in (b) to fall to $170\text{ Bq}$.

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