Physics Nuclear Physics MDCAT 2018
PMDC Verified Question 56 of 98
Calculate the activity (decaying atom per unit time) of radioactive strontium-90 having \( 6.7 \times 10^{21} \) atoms at t=0 decay constant of strontium-90 is \( 8.3 \times 10^{-10} \text{ s}^{-1} \)?
A
\( 8.01 \times 10^{10} \text{ Bq} \)
B
\( 5.6 \times 10^{12} \text{ Bq} \)
C
\( 5.6 \times 10^{11} \text{ s}^{-1} \)
D
\( 5.6 \times 10^{10} \text{ Bq} \)
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option B: \( 5.6 \times 10^{12} \text{ Bq} \)


Concept:

Activity (\(A\)) is defined as the rate at which nuclei undergo decay. It is mathematically the product of the decay constant and the number of active nuclei.

Formula:

$$ A = \lambda N $$

Solution:

  • Given: \(\lambda = 8.3 \times 10^{-10} \text{ s}^{-1}\) and \(N = 6.7 \times 10^{21}\).


  • Multiply the values: $$ A = (8.3 \times 10^{-10}) \times (6.7 \times 10^{21}) $$


  • Calculate the scalar part: \( 8.3 \times 6.7 \approx 55.61 \).


  • Calculate the exponent part: \( 10^{-10} \times 10^{21} = 10^{11} \).


  • Combine them: \( 55.61 \times 10^{11} = 5.561 \times 10^{12} \text{ Bq} \).


  • Rounding to two significant figures yields \( 5.6 \times 10^{12} \text{ Bq} \).


Why other options are incorrect:

Options A and D represent errors in shifting the decimal place (exponent math). Option C uses the wrong units (Activity is measured in Becquerels, Bq, although it is equivalent to \(s^{-1}\), conventionally Bq is used for activity, and the magnitude \(10^{11}\) is an unshifted decimal error).

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