LAB#17
Name: Victoria Chin
Class: 10A
Date: 30th June, 2025
Title: Radioactivity
Aim: To stimulate radioactivity
Materials and Apparatus:
- 120 coins
- 1 container
Diagram:
Method:
1. 120 coins were placed into a container.
2. The container was shaken.
3. All the coins were thrown onto a table.
4. All the coins that landed on ‘tails’ were removed.
5. All the remaining coins were counted.
6. This was repeated until there were no coins remaining.
Number of Throws Number of Coins Left
0 120
1 68
2 34
3 21
4 13
5 7
6 3
7 1
8 0
Results:
TABLE SHOWING THE COINS LEFT AFTER EACH THROW
Data Analysis:
1. Plot a graph of the number of coins remaining versus the number of throws.
2. Calculate the first three half-lives.
The first three half-lives were estimated as follows:
• 1st Half-life: From 120 to ~60 coins → around 1 throw (actual: 68)
• 2nd Half-life: From ~60 to ~30 coins → around 2 throws (actual: 34)
• 3rd Half-life: From ~30 to ~15 coins → around 3-4 throws (actual: 13 at throw 4)
Discussion:
The results show a clear trend of exponential decay, where the number of coins halves
approximately every 1–2 throws. This models the predictable pattern of radioactive decay in
unstable nuclei. The plotted graph demonstrates this trend with a steep initial decline that
gradually flattens as fewer coins remain, matching the shape of a typical radioactive decay curve.
This experiment effectively simulates the concept of half-life by showing that after each "decay
step" (coin throw), about half of the remaining undecayed coins are removed. Although random
variation affects exact numbers, the overall pattern confirms that radioactive decay is a random
but statistically predictable process.
Limitations:
1. The coin-toss model oversimplifies real nuclear decay, which happens continuously, not in
discrete rounds.
2. The experiment uses a small sample size (120 coins) compared to the vast number of atoms in
real materials.
Precautions:
1. Shake and toss the coins consistently each time to reduce bias.
2. Carefully count and remove only the coins showing tails after each throw.
Sources of Error:
1. Uneven tossing of coins could bias the number landing on tails.
2. Counting errors when removing coins may have led to incorrect remaining totals.
Conclusion:
The experiment successfully met its aim to simulate radioactivity, showing that the number of
undecayed "nuclei" (coins) decreases by roughly half each round, effectively modeling the
concept of half-life and the characteristic exponential decay of radioactive substances.
References:
1. Caribbean Examinations Council (CSEC) Physics Syllabus.
2. Serway, R. A., & Jewett, J. W. (2014). Physics for Scientists and Engineers.
3. HyperPhysics, Georgia State University. ([Link]
[Link])