The half-life of a radioactive isotope is 15 minutes15\text{ minutes}15 minutes. A sample of this isotope currently contains 1500 active nuclei. How many active nuclei were present in the sample one hour earlier?
949494
600060006000
120001200012000
240002400024000
484 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics 5.2 Radioactivity, covering 5.2.1 Background radiation and measuring count rate, 5.2.2a Alpha, beta and gamma emission, 5.2.2b Deflection and ionising effects of nuclear radiation, 5.2.3a Radioactive decay, 5.2.3b Effects of decay on the nucleus and decay equations, 5.2.4a Half-life, 5.2.4b Choosing isotopes for applications, and 5.2.5 Effects of ionising radiation and safety precautions. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.