The activity of a radioactive source is the rate at which the nuclei of the source decay. What is the unit for the activity of a radioactive source?

Understanding Radioactive Activity

1. Definition of Activity: The activity of a radioactive source refers to the number of decays per unit time that occur in a radioactive material. It provides insight into the rate at which the radioactive nuclei are transforming into a different state or element.

2. Standard Unit: The standard unit for measuring the activity of a radioactive source is the Becquerel (Bq). One Becquerel is defined as one decay per second.

3. Alternative Unit: Another unit that was commonly used before the Becquerel is the Curie (Ci), where 1 Ci is equivalent to 3.7 × 10^10 decays per second.

Summary

The activity of a radioactive source is measured in Becquerels (Bq), reflecting the number of decay events occurring per second. This unit allows scientists and researchers to quantify the rate of radioactive decay, which is essential for applications in nuclear medicine, radiological safety, and various fields of research involving radioactive materials.