Question

The process of radioactive decay is unpredictable and irreversible. Which option would be an appropriate model of the radioactive decay of a group of atoms? (1 point)
• popping a bag of popcorn
O breaking off pieces of wet clay
petals falling from a flower
O throwing tennis balls over a fence

Answer 1

Popping a bag of popcorn.

Reason: each kernel pops at an unpredictable time and once popped it cannot “un-pop,” so the number of unpopped kernels decreases randomly over time—much like radioactive nuclei undergoing irreversible, stochastic decay.