A radioactive source has a half-life of 3 days.
A detector near the source shows an initial reading of 24 000 24\,000\,24000 counts per minute.
Background radiation can be ignored.
What is the reading on the detector 9 days later?
300030003000 counts per minute
600060006000 counts per minute
800080008000 counts per minute
12 00012\,00012000 counts per minute
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.