question_answer 32)

    Suppose we consider a large number of containers each containing initially 10000 atoms of a radioactive material with a half life of 1 year. After 1 year. (a) all the containers will have 5000 atoms of the material (b) all the containers will contain the same number of atoms of the material but that number will only be approximately 5000 (c) the containers will in general have  different numbers of the atoms of the material but their average will be close to 5000 (d) none of the containers can have more than 5000 atoms

Answer:

   (c)Radioactivity is spontaneous self disruptive activity of the radioactive material. In t =1 year = half life of material; on the average, half the number of atoms will decay. Therefore, the containers will in general have different number of atoms of the material, but their average will be close to 5000. Choice  (c) is correct.