Half-Life and Radioactive Decay

Mr. Anderson explains the concept of half-life and radioactive decay using a dice simulation. The video covers the consistency of half-life, the use of equations to calculate decay, and the impact of changing the decay constant. It also explores different types of radioactive decay, including alpha, beta, and gamma decay, and their characteristics. The video provides a comprehensive understanding of how radioactive decay works and how it can be modeled and calculated.

What does the term 'half-life' refer to in the context of radioactive decay?

• The time it takes for radioactive nuclei to stop decaying

• The time it takes for a quarter of the radioactive nuclei to decay

• The time it takes for all radioactive nuclei to decay

• The time it takes for half of the radioactive nuclei to decay

How is the probability of decay related to the decay constant?

• The decay constant is unrelated to the probability of decay

• The decay constant is the inverse of the probability of decay

• The decay constant directly affects the probability of decay

• The decay constant is twice the probability of decay

What happens to the half-life when the decay constant is increased?

• The half-life becomes shorter

• The half-life remains the same

• The half-life becomes longer

• The half-life becomes unpredictable

In a graph showing radioactive decay, what does the half-life represent?

• The time it takes for the sample to reach 50% decay

• The time it takes for the sample to reach 75% decay

• The time it takes for the sample to start decaying

• The time it takes for the sample to completely decay

Which particle is emitted during alpha decay?

• A gamma ray

• A neutron

• An electron

• Two protons and two neutrons

What is conserved during beta decay?

• Only mass

• Only charge

• Both mass and charge

• Neither mass nor charge

What is the half-life of gamma decay from barium 137?

• 5,730 years

• 1 year

• 4.47 billion years

• 2.6 minutes