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)

Question

Responses

petals falling from a flower
petals falling from a flower

throwing tennis balls over a fence
throwing tennis balls over a fence

popping a bag of popcorn
popping a bag of popcorn

breaking off pieces of wet clay

Answer 1

An appropriate model of the radioactive decay of a group of atoms would be popping a bag of popcorn. This analogy works because, similar to radioactive decay, the popping of the popcorn kernels is unpredictable in terms of when each kernel will pop, and once a kernel has popped (an atom has decayed), it cannot revert to its original state.