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PRACTICE · MEMBERSIntermediate · Single correct

PRACTICE / Activity

How many decays occur each second?

A sample contains 5 × 10¹² unstable nuclei with decay constant 2 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹.

Find its current activity.

Organize the givens & assumptions
  • N = 5×10¹²
  • λ = 2×10⁻⁴ s⁻¹

Large population of a single radioactive parent with constant decay probability per second; activity is its current decay rate.

  1. A5×1012 Bq5\times10^{12}\ \mathrm{Bq}
  2. B108 Bq10^8\ \mathrm{Bq}
  3. C109 Bq10^9\ \mathrm{Bq}
  4. D2.5×1016 Bq2.5\times10^{16}\ \mathrm{Bq}

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