5. Quantum and Nuclear

Radioactivity — Quiz

Test your understanding of radioactivity with 5 practice questions.

Practice Questions

Question 1

Under secular equilibrium in a decay chain where the parent half-life is much longer than the daughter’s, what is the ratio of daughter nuclei $N_D$ to parent nuclei $N_P$?

Question 2

What is the mean lifetime $\tau$ of a radioactive nucleus in terms of its half-life $T_{1/2}$?

Question 3

A gamma-ray beam with initial intensity $I_0$ passes through three half-value layers (HVL) of shielding. What fraction of $I_0$ emerges?

Question 4

Which nuclear equation correctly represents the alpha decay of radon-222?

Question 5

A radioactive isotope has half-life $T_{1/2}=5.0\,\mathrm{d}$ and initial activity $A_0=500\,\mathrm{Bq}$. How long until its activity falls to $A=50\,\mathrm{Bq}$?