When radioactive decays are counted,the resulting counts vary because of their statistical nature although the experimental situation may be the same.If 10⁶ counts are registered,the next measurement of an equivalent situation may be expected to typically vary by about how many counts?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The variation in radioactive decay counts follows a Poisson distribution, where the standard deviation is the square root of the mean. For 10^6 counts, the standard deviation is √(10^6) = 1000, indicating typical variation.

When Radioactive Decays Are Counted,the Resulting Counts Vary Because of Their