Explain what is meant by the half-life of a radioactive sample. - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2022
Question 1
Explain what is meant by the half-life of a radioactive sample.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Explain what is meant by the half-life of a radioactive sample. - Leaving Cert Physics - Question 1 - 2022
Step 1
Definition of Half-Life
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Answer
The half-life of a radioactive sample is defined as the time taken for half of the radioactive nuclei in the sample to undergo decay. During this period, the amount of the radioactive substance decreases significantly, reflecting its random nature of decay.
Step 2
Understanding Decay
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Answer
For every half-life that passes, the remaining quantity of the radioactive material is reduced by half. This means that if you start with 100 grams of a radioactive substance, after one half-life, you will have 50 grams remaining, after two half-lives, 25 grams, and so on.
Step 3
Relation to Activity
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Additionally, the half-life can also be understood in terms of the activity of the sample. As the number of radioactive atoms decreases, the activity (the rate of decay) of the sample also halves during each half-life period.
Step 4
Significance
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Answer
The concept of half-life is crucial in various fields such as radiotherapy, dating archaeological finds, and understanding nuclear reactions. It helps estimate how long a radioactive substance will remain harmful or useful.
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