) Categorize the following statements related to radioactivity as true or false.
i) All elements present in nature show radioactivity. (Score: ½)
ii) Rate of decay of all radioactive elements can be characterized by their half period
Dear student,
(i) Yes. Every element has radioactive isotopes. Some have stable isotopes, too. Some exist only as radioactive isotopes
(ii) The decay rate of a radioactive substance is characterised by the following constant quantities:
(i) Yes. Every element has radioactive isotopes. Some have stable isotopes, too. Some exist only as radioactive isotopes
(ii) The decay rate of a radioactive substance is characterised by the following constant quantities:
- The half-life (t1/2) is the time taken for the activity of a given amount of a radioactive substance to decay to half of its initial value.
- The mean lifetime (τ, “tau”) is the average lifetime of a radioactive particle before decay.
- The decay constant (λ, “lambda”) is the inverse of the mean lifetime.