Radioactive decay data scatter · BPhO 2009 #10

Physics · modern-physics

Problem

The graph above plots the measurements of the radioactive decay of an element, along with a line of best fit. Why do some of the data points not lie on the line of best fit, but appear above and below it? [Figure: Graph titled "Radioactive Decay" showing count vs time/seconds, with exponential decay curve from 600 to near 0 over 400 seconds, with scattered data points around the fitted line] A. Not all of the α or β or γ radiations are measured B. The source decays in a random manner C. The background count is not zero D. Inaccurate measurements by the experimenter

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