Answers to GCSE Random Nature of Radioactive decay

Practice Questions

1.Explain why it is not possible to predict the count rate of a sample of radioactive isotope.

Radioactive decay is a random process and it  is not possible to predict a count rate. 

It is possible to estimate a count rate, but it would be an estimate and not an accurate value, because count rate would vary due to the random nature of radioactive decay.

It is possible to measure a count rate using a GM tube, but the value will constantly fluctuate due to the random nature of radioactive decay.

2. A student asked his teacher, if you heat a radioactive substance will it decay faster? Suggest the teacher’s response to the student’s question.

Radioactive decay is a random process, it is not affected by changes in temperature. This is because it is a nuclear reaction, rather than a chemical reaction.

3. Which piece of apparatus can you use to measure the count rate of a radioactive substance?

Geiger Muller Tube, connected to a Geiger counter