IB skill practice

Calculate activity and decay constants

Paper 1, Paper 2 5 marks Difficulty 5

Activity from decay constant

A radioisotope sample in a radioisotope decay log has \(1420\) undecayed nuclei and decay constant \(0.08\,\text{s}^{-1}\). Calculate activity. Use the diagram labels before calculating the requested value. Enter the numerical result and choose the interpretation that matches the quantum or nuclear physics.

Worked practice: physics data and result

Read the physical quantities first, then calculate the result and state what it means.