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The graph above represents the nuclear decay of a radioactive element, measured using a radiation-detecting device. What is the half-life, in days, of this hypothetical element?

The graph above represents the nuclear decay of a radioactive element, measured using a radiation-detecting device. What is the half-life, in days, of this hypothetical element?

College Physics
College Physics
11th Edition
ISBN:9781305952300
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter1: Units, Trigonometry. And Vectors
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The graph above represents the nuclear decay of a radioactive element,
measured using a radiation-detecting device. What is the half-life, in days, of
this hypothetical element?

### Radioactive Decay Graph This graph represents the decay of a radioactive substance over a period of 10 days. The vertical axis (y-axis) shows the radioactive counts per minute measured, ranging from 0 to 80. The horizontal axis (x-axis) indicates the time in days, spanning from 0 to 10. #### Detailed Graph Explanation: 1. **Initial Activity**: At day 0, the radioactive counts per minute are approximately 80. 2. **Decline Over Time**: As time progresses, the counts per minute decrease exponentially. 3. **Decay Trend**: By day 1, the counts have dropped to around 55. By day 5, the counts per minute are approximately 20. By day 10, the counts are near zero. This exponential decline is characteristic of radioactive decay, where the quantity of the substance decreases at a rate proportional to its current quantity. Understanding this concept is crucial in fields such as nuclear physics, chemistry, and environmental science.
Transcribed Image Text:### Radioactive Decay Graph This graph represents the decay of a radioactive substance over a period of 10 days. The vertical axis (y-axis) shows the radioactive counts per minute measured, ranging from 0 to 80. The horizontal axis (x-axis) indicates the time in days, spanning from 0 to 10. #### Detailed Graph Explanation: 1. **Initial Activity**: At day 0, the radioactive counts per minute are approximately 80. 2. **Decline Over Time**: As time progresses, the counts per minute decrease exponentially. 3. **Decay Trend**: By day 1, the counts have dropped to around 55. By day 5, the counts per minute are approximately 20. By day 10, the counts are near zero. This exponential decline is characteristic of radioactive decay, where the quantity of the substance decreases at a rate proportional to its current quantity. Understanding this concept is crucial in fields such as nuclear physics, chemistry, and environmental science.
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