9702 · 23.2
Radioactive decay — FAQ
Frequently asked questions for 9702 Radioactive decay. Direct answers first, then deeper explanation — then practise with marking.
Why is radioactive decay considered both spontaneous and random?
It's spontaneous because external conditions like temperature or pressure don't affect when a nucleus decays. It's random because we cannot predict when a specific nucleus will decay, only the probability over time for a large sample.
What is the practical significance of half-life in real-world applications?
Half-life is crucial for applications such as carbon dating (determining the age of ancient artefacts), medical diagnostics (using isotopes with short half-lives that quickly decay), and nuclear waste management (planning for safe storage of long-lived radioactive materials).
Can radioactive decay be sped up or slowed down?
No, radioactive decay is an intrinsic property of the unstable nucleus. It is not influenced by external physical or chemical conditions, meaning its rate cannot be altered by heating, cooling, pressurising, or chemical reactions. The decay constant and half-life are fixed for each isotope.