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Physics quiz question: radioactive decay age

Physics 205B Quiz 7, spring semester 2013
Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

Two samples have certain amounts of a radioactive isotope, an embedded gaseous daughter element, and inert material (which is not involved in the decay process). As determined by radioactive dating, sample A is __________ than sample B.
(A) older.
(B) younger.
(C) (There is a tie.)
(D) (Cannot be determined.)

Correct answer (highlight to unhide): (A)

The solidification age of a sample (how long ago has it been since it was last molten) is determined by the ratio of decay products to its unstable isotopes. A larger ratio of decay products to unstable isotopes corresponds to a sample with a very old solidification age.

Sample A started with 24 unstable isotope squares when it first solidified (as any gaseous decay products would have been released when it was melted), of which 8 remain today, such that it has 33% of its original radioactivity today. Sample B started with 16 unstable isotope squares when it first solidified, of which 8 remain today, such that it has 50% of its original radioactivity today.

Section 30882
Exam code: quiz07f3yN
(A) : 31 students
(B) : 1 student
(C) : 0 students
(D) : 0 students

Success level: 97%
Discrimination index (Aubrecht & Aubrecht, 1983): 0.07

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