Half-Life (Gizmo)

A radioactive atom can change:

• at any time
• only in a microwave
• only when it is hot
• only when it is cold

Radioactive atoms change by emitting:

• tiny particles
• energy
• both
• neither

When a radioactive atom decays, it turns into:

• a daughter atom
• a cousin atom
• the exact same atom but with less energy

An instrument that detects the particles and energy emitted  by decaying radioactive atoms:

• a Geiger counter
• a Richter scale
• a Kelvin scale
• a Punnet square 

Is the rate of decay fastest at the beginning, middle, or end of the process?

• the beginning
• the middle
• he end

One group of unstable atoms have a half-life of 35 seconds.  Another group has a half-life of 5 seconds.  Which group approaches zero unstable atoms first?

• The 35 second half-life
• The 5 second half-life
• They approach zero at the same time

Which correctly calculates an average of data points?

• 33 + 29 + 30 + 37 + 30 ÷ 5
• (33 + 29 + 30 + 37 + 30) ÷ 5
• 33 + 29 + 30 + 37 + 30 x 5
• (33 + 29 + 30 + 37 + 30) x 5

A half-life is defined as:

• the amount of time it takes for half of the radioactive particles to decay
• the lifespan of a radioactive isotope is half as long as the stable isotope
• the amount of time the radioactive atom releases particles and energy during a decay process

You find a rock sample with radioactive atoms present.  If 50% of the original radioactive atoms were present, how many half-lives has the rock been around for?

• zero
• 1
• 2
• 3

You find a rock sample with radioactive atoms present.  If 25% of the original radioactive atoms were present, how many half-lives has the rock been around for?

• zero
• 1
• 2
• 3