For two radioactive nuclides and

PHYSICS · Single correct · A Level · Physics · Nuclear physics · Nuclear physics

Problem

For two radioactive nuclides

X

and

Y

, semi-log plots of their undecayed nuclei yield straight-line slopes

-0.020\,\text{h}^{-1}

and

-0.050\,\text{h}^{-1}

respectively. Which statement is correct? (a)

X

has a shorter half-life than

Y

(b) Both nuclides have identical half-lives (c)

Y

has a shorter half-life than

X

(d) The half-life cannot be compared without knowing their initial numbers of nuclei