Radioactive Decay
 

Radioactive Decay problem 2


A sample of a radioactive isotope is decaying. Which atoms will decay first?


  • impossible to know, because radioactive decay is random

  • impossible to know, unless the age of the material is known

  • atoms near the centre, because they are surrounded by more atoms

  • atoms near the surface, because the radiation can escape more easily


 

main author and content editor: Joanah Frank