Understanding Decay
This worksheet explores the fundamental concepts of decay, including radioactive decay and its applications, and biological decomposition.
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Understanding Decay
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. Show all your work for calculations.
1. Which type of decay involves the spontaneous emission of particles or energy from an unstable atomic nucleus?
Biological decay
Radioactive decay
Chemical decay
Mechanical decay
2. The time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay is known as its .
3. Decomposers, such as bacteria and fungi, play a crucial role in decay by breaking down dead organic matter.
4. Alpha decay results in a decrease in both the atomic number and the mass number of the decaying nucleus.
True
False
5. Explain the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion.
Match each term on the left with its definition on the right.
6. Beta decay
a. The process by which organic substances are broken down into simpler matter.
7. Decomposition
b. A type of radioactive decay in which an electron or positron is emitted.
8. A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 5 years. If you start with 100 grams of the isotope, how much will remain after 15 years? Plot the remaining amount at each half-life on the number line below.