Question

In an experiment to determine the half-life of a radioisotope, the attached graph was obtained. From the graph, what was the background count rate? What was the initial count rate from the sample? From the graph, deduce the half-life of the radioisotope.

Answer 1

Background count rate is the lowest value of the graph.

Answer 2

- where it levels out

Answer 3

Thank you!

Answer 4

initial count rate is where the curve cuts the y axis.

Answer 5

Deducing the half-life is a bit tricky because its not easy to see the time when the graph is at the background rate. It looks like at 7 hours which would make the half-life 3.5 hours.

Answer 6

yw