Chapter 18, Problem 61AE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation: The mass percent of carbon in a typical human body and mass percent of ${}^{\text{14}}\text{C}$ in natural carbon is given. The decay events per second in a $180-\text{lb}$ person are to be calculated.

Concept introduction: Nuclei of radioactive element decompose in various ways. There are two major categories. One involves a change in mass number of the decaying nucleus while others do not. Types of radioactive processes include $\text{α}$ particle production, $\text{β}$ particle production, $\text{γ}$ ray production, electron capture and many others.