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7 marksScientific Method

CSEC Physics · May/June 2009 · Paper 2 · Question 1(a)

A student recorded data for an alpha-emitting radioactive source to determine its half-life.

Plot on page 3, a graph of count rate (R) versus time (t).

This question uses a figure or table from the paper — you'll see it when you practise.

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Other parts of this question

  1. 1(b)What is meant by the 'half-life' of a radioactive sample?[1 mark]
  2. 1(c)Describe the procedure a student would use to obtain the results in Table 1. State ONE precaution.[3 marks]
  3. 1(d)(i)From the graph, make TWO calculations of the half-life of the sample.[6 marks]
  4. 1(d)(ii)From your results in (d) (i), calculate the mean (average) half-life.[2 marks]
  5. 1(e)(i)Estimate the count rate of the sample after 425 s[6 marks]
  6. 1(e)(ii)Estimate the count rate of the sample after 4 half-life periods.[6 marks]

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