🇬🇧 Limited Time — UK Only·🎓 Free Learning for 1 Month·🤖 Free AI Training Included·📚 4,000+ Lessons · 35,000+ Quizzes·🏆 GCSE Mocks · Olympiad Papers·⚡ Selected Students Only · Limited Places·🎁 Free Value Worth £2,000·🇬🇧 Limited Time — UK Only·🎓 Free Learning for 1 Month·🤖 Free AI Training Included·📚 4,000+ Lessons · 35,000+ Quizzes·🏆 GCSE Mocks · Olympiad Papers·⚡ Selected Students Only · Limited Places·🎁 Free Value Worth £2,000·🇬🇧 Limited Time — UK Only·🎓 Free Learning for 1 Month·🤖 Free AI Training Included·📚 4,000+ Lessons · 35,000+ Quizzes·🏆 GCSE Mocks · Olympiad Papers·⚡ Selected Students Only · Limited Places·🎁 Free Value Worth £2,000·
Back to questions directory
A-Level PhysicsYear 2021Q4

8 4 Radioactive decay is often described in textbooks as a spontaneous, random process. (a) State what is meant by spontaneous decay. (1) .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. *(b) Explain why there is an exponential decrease in the rate of decay for a sample containing a large number of unstable nuclei. (6) .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. (Total for Question 4 = 7 marks)

Paper Source:9PH0_03_que_20211021.pdf

Get full Socratic AI guidance on this question — free in the Applaa desktop app

Appy Buddy guides you step-by-step toward the answer without giving it away. Type your attempt and get instant, mark-scheme-aware clues that teach you to think like an examiner.

Download Applaa Free →
Applaa Desktop App

Join Applaa Community

Create your own games, learn AI concepts, program interactive apps, and share with a kid-safe community approved by parents. Free forever on Windows and Mac.

Download Free

Available for Windows and macOS · COPPA Compliant

Exam Specification Info

This question is part of the UK A-Level Physics syllabus. In the actual exam, structured questions typically require linking specific keywords to gain full marks. Applaa helps you drill these topics.

Syllabus levelAdvanced Level (A-Level)
SubjectPhysics
Official MarksVariable (2–6 marks)