Key Stage 5
Meaning
In radioactivity, activity is the number of disintegrations per second of a radioactive isotope.
About Activity
- Measured in becquerels (Bq), where 1 Bq equals one disintegration per second.
- Indicates the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays.
- Higher activity means more frequent emissions of radiation.
- Activity decreases over time as the radioactive material decays.
- Related to the half-life of the radioactive isotope, which is the time taken for half of the isotope to decay.
- Activity can also be measured in curies (Ci), where 1 Ci = 3.7 x 10^10 disintegrations per second.
- Activity is used in various applications including medical imaging, cancer treatment, and radiometric dating.