Author Question: Your friend says that the helium used to inflate balloons is a product of radioactive decay. Another ... (Read 31 times)

bb · **on:** Jul 29, 2018

Your friend says that the helium used to inflate balloons is a product of radioactive decay. Another friend says no way. With whom do you agree?

A) If helium were a product of radioactive decay, we would all be radioactive. Agree with the friend that says no way.
B) Radioactive decay produces alpha particles, not helium. Agree with the friend that says no way.
C) Your first friend is correct. Radioactive isotopes emit alpha particles which, in turn, capture electrons and become helium atoms.
D) Helium is an element of the periodic table, not some product of any reaction. Agree with the friend that says no way.

Question 2

If a sheet containing a single thin slit is heated (without damaging it) and therefore expands, what happens to the width of the central bright diffraction region on a distant screen?

A) It gets narrower.
B) It gets wider.
C) It doesn't change.