PhysicsCode 9702
Radioactive decay
What this topic asks you to be able to do
- understand that the count rate's fluctuations give evidence for radioactive decay being random in nature
- know that radioactive decay happens both spontaneously and at random
- define activity and decay constant, and state the relationship A = λN and apply it
- define half-life
- use λ = 0.693/t₁/₂
- understand that radioactive decay is exponential in character, and sketch and apply x = x₀e–λt, where x may stand for activity, the number of undecayed nuclei or the received count rate