A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 4 hours.
A detector close to a sample of this isotope gives a count rate of 520 counts per minute.
Without the source, the background count rate is 40 counts per minute.
What is the count rate due to the source after 8 hours?
120 counts per minute
130 counts per minute
160 counts per minute
240 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.