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Code: V1i
1. Explain the radioactive decay law. Define the activity of a radionuclide and its units.
The radioactive decay law states that “The probability per unit time that a nucleus
will decay is a constant, independent of time”. This is exponential in nature, expressed
mathematically as:
Where N 0 is the number of nuclei present initially, N t is the number of nuclei present
at time t and λ is the radioactive decay constant.
As I can define de activity of a radionuclide is determinate by measuring the number
of disintegrations per unit of time. A disintegration occurs each time a nucleus ejects
particles or energy.
This activity is measured in a unit called the Becquerel (Bq)
1 Bq is equivalent to 1 disintegration per second