Aim: To use an analogous system of die to demonstrate the nature of radioactive decay

1. Ronaldo Degazon Wednesday 6/02/13 Physics Lab #20 – Radioactivity 1
Discussion:
Radioactive decay is the process by which by which an atomic nucleus of an
unstable atom loses energy by emitting ionizing particles. The half-life of a radioactive element
is the time it takes for half the original number of radioactive nuclei to decay.
Radioactive decay is a random process on the atomic level, in that it is impossible
to predict when a given atom will decay - you would not know specifically which atomic nuclei
will decay. However, given a large number of similar radioactive atoms, the decay rate on
average is predictable. The half life is a probabilistic or expectation value for the time it takes
for fifty percent of the substance to decay.
This analogous systemof dice is suitable to represent radioactive decay. This is
because the number of ‘sixes’ depends on the number of dice in the throw and on the
probability of throwing a six (1/6). The more dice in a throw, the greater the probability of
getting a six. Radioactive decay follows the same general pattern. The more radioactive atoms
there are, the more radioactive decay that is likely to occur.
The half life of this system was found to be approximately 4 throws. This means
that on average, it would take 4 throws for the number of die to decrease by half its original
amount.
Sources of Error:
1. Some die could have fallen out of the box when pouring the die.
2. Some die could have landed on top of each other.
3. The die could have piled up in one space when pouring it into the box.
4. Not all the die which landed on six may have been counted.
Precautions:
1. It was ensured that all the dies fell into the box. If any die fell out of the box, the throw
was deemed void and restarted.
2. A box with a sufficiently large surface area was used and the die were poured in a
specific way so as to prevent die from piling up in one place or landing on top of each
other.
3. After the dies which landed on six were removed the box was re-checked for any missed
sixes.

2. Conclusion: An analogous system of die was successfully used to demonstrate the nature of
radioactive decay and its half life was found to be 4 throws.