Radioactive Decay Worksheet
1. Two radioactive isotopes are extracted from spent nuclear fuel and placed in a metal
container, which is then sealed and deposited in a nuclear waste disposal facility. The
graph above shows how many nuclei of isotopes 1 and 2 remain as a function of time.
a. From the graph, determine the half-life of isotope 1 and the half-life of isotope 2.
b. At time t = 10 years, which isotope is decaying at the greater rate? Explain your
reasoning.
c. What type of radiation (alpha, beta, or gamma) would be most likely to escape
through the container walls?
