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Questions and Answers
What is the process by which a radioactive atom changes into a stable daughter atom called?
What is the process by which a radioactive atom changes into a stable daughter atom called?
Which instrument is used to detect the particles and energy emitted by decaying radioactive atoms?
Which instrument is used to detect the particles and energy emitted by decaying radioactive atoms?
What is the half-life of the radioactive substance in the Gizmo activity described?
What is the half-life of the radioactive substance in the Gizmo activity described?
During the initial phase of decay, how does the rate of radioactive decay change?
During the initial phase of decay, how does the rate of radioactive decay change?
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As time progresses in the decay process, what happens to the number of radioactive atoms?
As time progresses in the decay process, what happens to the number of radioactive atoms?
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In the context of the Gizmo, what occurs at the end of the decay process?
In the context of the Gizmo, what occurs at the end of the decay process?
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What change occurs in the numbers of daughter atoms as the simulation in the Gizmo proceeds?
What change occurs in the numbers of daughter atoms as the simulation in the Gizmo proceeds?
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Which term refers to a variant of an element with a different number of neutrons?
Which term refers to a variant of an element with a different number of neutrons?
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What does the half-life of a radioactive isotope represent?
What does the half-life of a radioactive isotope represent?
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How can one find the exact half-life of an isotope using the simulation?
How can one find the exact half-life of an isotope using the simulation?
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Why is it important to select Theoretical decay in the simulation?
Why is it important to select Theoretical decay in the simulation?
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What do you expect happens to the number of radioactive atoms as the half-life increases?
What do you expect happens to the number of radioactive atoms as the half-life increases?
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Which data is typically recorded in the decay simulation table?
Which data is typically recorded in the decay simulation table?
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What is the general process to estimate the half-life from the graph of an isotope's decay?
What is the general process to estimate the half-life from the graph of an isotope's decay?
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How is the half-life defined in terms of radioactive atoms?
How is the half-life defined in terms of radioactive atoms?
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What is essential to do before starting the simulation for measuring half-life?
What is essential to do before starting the simulation for measuring half-life?
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Which observation is expected when comparing decay curves for a half-life of 5 seconds versus 35 seconds?
Which observation is expected when comparing decay curves for a half-life of 5 seconds versus 35 seconds?
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Which option describes isotopes?
Which option describes isotopes?
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What is the main purpose of using a simulation experiment to observe radioactive decay?
What is the main purpose of using a simulation experiment to observe radioactive decay?
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What is the purpose of using the Half-life probe in the experiment?
What is the purpose of using the Half-life probe in the experiment?
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When collecting data for radioactive decay, what trend should you observe in the number of radioactive atoms over time?
When collecting data for radioactive decay, what trend should you observe in the number of radioactive atoms over time?
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If a sample starts with 100 radioactive atoms, how many would remain after two half-lives?
If a sample starts with 100 radioactive atoms, how many would remain after two half-lives?
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What does each second represent in the Gizmo when modeling the decay of Carbon-14?
What does each second represent in the Gizmo when modeling the decay of Carbon-14?
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During the simulation, what occurs to the daughter atoms as the number of radioactive atoms decreases?
During the simulation, what occurs to the daughter atoms as the number of radioactive atoms decreases?
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What effect does the number of atoms present have on the measured half-life?
What effect does the number of atoms present have on the measured half-life?
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What is the half-life of Carbon-14?
What is the half-life of Carbon-14?
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What would happen to the average number of radioactive atoms after multiple trials of measuring them at different times?
What would happen to the average number of radioactive atoms after multiple trials of measuring them at different times?
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Which of the following is a method scientists use to determine the age of artifacts?
Which of the following is a method scientists use to determine the age of artifacts?
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If a sample of Neanderthal skull has 3% of its original Carbon-14 atoms, how old might it be based on the half-life of Carbon-14?
If a sample of Neanderthal skull has 3% of its original Carbon-14 atoms, how old might it be based on the half-life of Carbon-14?
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What is the expected outcome when running multiple trials using the Mystery half-life in the Gizmo?
What is the expected outcome when running multiple trials using the Mystery half-life in the Gizmo?
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Study Notes
Student Exploration: Half-life
- Radioactive atoms decay, emitting radiation, changing into a stable daughter atom.
- Decay rate is measured using a Geiger counter.
- Half-life is the time it takes for half the radioactive atoms to decay.
- Half-life affects the rate of decay; a shorter half-life results in faster decay.
- Radioactive decay is used to date materials (radiometric dating).
- Radioactive isotopes have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nucleus.
- The number of radioactive atoms decreases over time as they decay into daughter atoms at a constant rate.
Prior Knowledge Questions
- Students are asked about their experience with microwave popcorn and the rate of popping.
- This relates to how the decay of radioactive substances is similar and different to the predictable (but not uniform) rate of an event. The constant decay rate is a hallmark of radioactive substance decay.
Gizmo Warm-Up
- Radioactive atoms decay at a predictable rate, changing into a stable isotope (daughter atom).
- This decay is demonstrated through the emission of particles/energy.
Activity A: Decay Curves
- Radioactive atoms decay at a constant rate
- The number of radioactive atoms decreases while the number of daughter atoms increases.
- In a constant rate of decay, the rate is not uniform over time, but the decay rate is constant for any chosen half-life
- Experimentation with different half-life settings shows the relationship between the decay time and number of atoms (or rate of radioactive atoms decay).
Activity B: Measuring Half-life
- Radioactive decay of an isotope can be measured in a Gizmo, (graphical example shown).
- The half-life of an isotope can be determined by measuring the decay time.
- Measuring the decay time shows the time it takes for one-half of the radioactive atoms to decay (one half-life).
- The process is used to measure the age of materials.
- Example calculation: a material containing 12.5% of original radioactive atoms is 2 half-lives = 94 years old.
- Calculating the percentage of radioactive atoms remaining after each half-life can help to determine age.
- Different isotopes of the same element have same number of protons but different number of neutrons.
- Half-life is a constant rate.
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Description
Dive into the concept of half-life and radioactive decay. This quiz explores how radioactive atoms emit radiation and transition into stable daughter atoms over time. Learn about the significance of half-life and its applications in fields like radiometric dating.
