O-LevelPhysicsNuclear Physics5054/12 · Oct/Nov 2020 · Q391 Mark

What is the definition of the half-life of a radioactive element?

Ahalf of the time it takes for one atom to decay

Bhalf of the time taken for all the atoms in a sample to decay

Cthe time taken for half of the atoms in a sample to decay

Dthe time taken for the nucleon number (mass number) to halve

✓ Correct answer

C: the time taken for half of the atoms in a sample to decay

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Topic: Nuclear Physics, O-Level Physics (syllabus 5054). Multiple choice, 1 mark.
Source: O-Level Physics, Oct/Nov 2020 Paper 1 Variant 2, question 39.

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