Question Detail

PHY 104 PHY 104 Past Questions Objective Question

Question

The table shows the results of an experiment to find the half-life of a radioactive substance. (Table: time/s: 0, 60, 120, 180, 240; count rate: 150, 120, 95, 75, 60) What is the half-life of the substance?
Options
A 60 seconds
B 120 seconds
Correct Answer
C 180 seconds
D 240 seconds
Correct Answer

Option B is the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation

The initial count rate is 150 counts/s. Half of this is 75 counts/s. From the table, the count rate reaches 75 counts/s at t = 180 s. However, the count rate at t=120 s is 95, and at t=180 s is 75. The time to drop from 150 to 75 is approximately between 120 and 180 seconds. More precisely, the half-life is when the count rate is 75. Looking at the table, 75 is at 180 s. But let's check: 150 -> 75 is one half-life. 75 -> 37.5 would be another. The table doesn't go that far. The count rate drops to 75 at 180 s. So the half-life is 180 seconds? Let's re-read the data: time: 0,60,120,180,240; count: 150,120,95,75,60. The count rate drops from 150 to 75 (half) between 120 and 180 seconds. The exact half-life is when it is 75, which is at 180 seconds. But the options are 60, 120, 180, 240. 180 is correct.

Hint

Find the time it takes for the count rate to drop to half its initial value.

Question Info