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Nuclear Decay
Nuclear Decay

Virtual Lab - Nuclear Decay

The aim of this exercise is to: (a) verify the statistical (random) nature of the radioactive decay Americium 241; and (b) to measure the decay of an isotope over time and to use the result to determine the decay constant and half-life of Barium-137.

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Experimental Apparatus - left Americium-241 sample under a geiger counter, right - Barium-137 under a geiger counter


Select histogram bucket size (default is 10)

          Recording data for seconds.
Histogram - Counts per second 0 20 40 60 80 0 5 10 15 20 Counts per second Number
MassForce


Choose the element you wish to measure the decay of over time below (default is Ba-137)



          Recording data for seconds.
Counts per second 0 1 2 3 4 0 125 250 375 500 Time Counts
MassForce


Use the data to determine the half life of the unstable radioactive isotopes