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What is the mean life of a radioactive material?
- a)The time it takes for a radioactive material to become completely stable.
- b)The time in which the activity reduces to half of its initial value.
- c)The average time taken for atoms of an element to decay.
- d)The time it takes for a radioactive element to lose all of its radioactivity.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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What is the mean life of a radioactive material?a)The time it takes fo...
The correct answer is option 'C': The mean life of a radioactive material is the average time taken for atoms of an element to decay.
The concept of radioactive decay refers to the spontaneous transformation of unstable atomic nuclei into more stable configurations, often accompanied by the emission of radiation. The rate at which this decay occurs can vary widely for different radioactive materials.
To understand the mean life of a radioactive material, let's break down the key aspects:
1. Radioactive Decay:
- Radioactive materials contain unstable atomic nuclei.
- These nuclei have an excess of either protons or neutrons, leading to an unstable configuration.
- In order to achieve a more stable state, these nuclei undergo a process called radioactive decay.
2. Decay Constant:
- The decay of radioactive materials follows an exponential decay law.
- The rate of decay is characterized by a decay constant, denoted by λ.
- The decay constant represents the probability per unit time that a particular nucleus will decay.
3. Half-Life:
- The half-life of a radioactive material is the time it takes for the activity (rate of decay) to reduce to half of its initial value.
- It is important to note that the half-life is a characteristic property of each radioactive material and can vary widely.
- The half-life can range from fractions of a second to billions of years.
4. Mean Life:
- The mean life, denoted by τ (tau), is the average time taken for atoms of an element to decay.
- It is related to the decay constant (λ) by the equation: τ = 1/λ.
- The mean life provides a measure of the typical length of time it takes for radioactive atoms to undergo decay.
In summary, the mean life of a radioactive material represents the average time it takes for atoms of that element to decay. It is determined by the reciprocal of the decay constant and provides insight into the overall decay behavior of the material.
The concept of radioactive decay refers to the spontaneous transformation of unstable atomic nuclei into more stable configurations, often accompanied by the emission of radiation. The rate at which this decay occurs can vary widely for different radioactive materials.
To understand the mean life of a radioactive material, let's break down the key aspects:
1. Radioactive Decay:
- Radioactive materials contain unstable atomic nuclei.
- These nuclei have an excess of either protons or neutrons, leading to an unstable configuration.
- In order to achieve a more stable state, these nuclei undergo a process called radioactive decay.
2. Decay Constant:
- The decay of radioactive materials follows an exponential decay law.
- The rate of decay is characterized by a decay constant, denoted by λ.
- The decay constant represents the probability per unit time that a particular nucleus will decay.
3. Half-Life:
- The half-life of a radioactive material is the time it takes for the activity (rate of decay) to reduce to half of its initial value.
- It is important to note that the half-life is a characteristic property of each radioactive material and can vary widely.
- The half-life can range from fractions of a second to billions of years.
4. Mean Life:
- The mean life, denoted by τ (tau), is the average time taken for atoms of an element to decay.
- It is related to the decay constant (λ) by the equation: τ = 1/λ.
- The mean life provides a measure of the typical length of time it takes for radioactive atoms to undergo decay.
In summary, the mean life of a radioactive material represents the average time it takes for atoms of that element to decay. It is determined by the reciprocal of the decay constant and provides insight into the overall decay behavior of the material.
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What is the mean life of a radioactive material?a)The time it takes fo...
The mean life of a radioactive material is the average time taken for the atoms of that element to decay. It is a measure of the stability of the radioactive substance.
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What is the mean life of a radioactive material?a)The time it takes for a radioactive material to become completely stable.b)The time in which the activity reduces to half of its initial value.c)The average time taken for atoms of an element to decay.d)The time it takes for a radioactive element to lose all of its radioactivity.Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?
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