Thermal Physics · Problem C.1

Propagation — Charles Kittel & Herbert Kroemer

Physics — Statistical Mechanics · poisson-distribution-random-pulses

Problem

Random pulses. A radioactive source emits alpha particles which are counted at an average rate of one per second. (a) What is the probability of counting exactly 10 alpha particles in 5 s? (b) Of counting 2 in 1 s? (c) Of counting none in 5 s? The answers to (a) and (b) are not identical.

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