Running Head: THE DECAY OF RADIOACTIVE NUCLEI 1

Representing the rate of radioactive decay

Aim
This practical’s purpose is to use non-alcoholic beer foam to represent the rate of radioactive decay

Introduction
During this lab, non-alcoholic beer will be discharged in a cylinder and the portion of bubbles will be
measured. The bubbles burst unsystematic therefore this experiment is homogeneous to the decay of
radioactive nuclei. In this lab, beer is used as a substitute of radioactive element.

Research Question
How does the pace of the decline of non-alcoholic beer foam vary with time to represent the rate of
radioactive decay?

Variables
Independent Variable- Time period of shaking & settling
Dependent Variable- Height of Bubbles formed
Controlled Variables- Amount of beer at the beginning of the experiment, Same type of non- alcoholic
beer , surface in which the bottles are placed on, force exerted to shake each bottle is identical.

Background Information-
Radioactive decay is the spontaneous process of breakdown by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses
energy and releases matter from the nucleus by emitting radiation. Elements decay to stabilize
themselves. The radioactive decay law states that the probability per unit time that a nucleus will decay is
a constant, independent of time.According to quantum theory, it is impossible to predict when a particular
atom will decay, regardless of how long the atom has existed. However, for a collection of atoms, the
expected decay rate is characterized in terms of measured decay half-lives.

Hypothesis- the non-alcoholic beer air pockets will blast unsystematically but at the same rate and thus
the height of the beer will be corresponding to the time passed. I think overall that the beer’s half life will
be short and not going higher than a minute.

Apparatus & Material-

- Measuring Cylinder
- Paper
- Tape
- Marker

Method:
- A strip of paper will be taped to the measuring cylinder and this paper will be used to mark the
beer level.
- The beer is shaken and poured into the measuring cylinder, and as soon as it settles a little, the
beer level is marked.
- The timer is started and within every 5 seconds, the level of the beer is marked on the strip of
paper.
- This is done repeatedly for two whole minutes and 3 minutes later, the beer level is marked again
at zero, even if there is a little foam left in the flask.
- The strip of paper is now taken off and each marking is measured using a ruler.

Raw Data Collection Method

Time/s Height/cm Time/s Height/cm

0.000 8.80 65.000 2.70

5.000 8.00 70.000 2.60

10.000 7.60 75.000 2.30

15.000 7.30 80.000 2.10

20.000 6.80 85.000 1.90

25.000 6.20 90.000 1.60

30.000 5.50 95.000 1.50

35.000 5.00 100.000 1.30

40.000 4.40 105.000 1.20

45.000 3.90 110.000 1.10

50.000 3.60 115.000 1.00

55.000 3.30 120.000 0.90

60.000 3.10 300.000 0.00

Presenting processed data

Calculations

Gradient of the graph-

= -0.029

Steepest steep-
Original points - (0, 8.80) (120, 0.90)
(0, 8.85) (120, 0.85)
𝑦2− 𝑦! 0.85− 8.85
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
= 120−0

= -0.066
Running Head: THE DECAY OF RADIOACTIVE NUCLEI 5

Least steep-
(0, 8.75) (120, 0.95)
𝑦2− 𝑦! 0.95− 8.75
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
= 120−0

=-0.065
Uncertainty on the gradient-
𝑚𝑎𝑥 − 𝑚𝑖𝑛
2

0.066− 0.065
2

−4
± 5𝑥10
−4
- 0.029 ± 5𝑥10

Conclusion and evaluation- According to my hypothesis the beer’s half life was not more than a minute,
so therefore I was correct. Evaluating, We assume that the mass of beer foam is directly proportional to
the volume of beer foam, just as the mass of beer liquid is directly proportional to the volume of beer
liquid. The heights of liquid and of foam are also directly proportional to their respective volumes. By
looking at the graph we can see that the relationship between the height and time of beer are inversely
proportional, furthermore evaluating the values on the graph the uncertainties are not fully visible due to
their very small range.

Strengths and Limitations- The most limiting factor about the data is the uncertainty being too small to
become noticeable in graphing therefore there was no way the steepest and least steep could be plotted
and represented on the graph. One of the limitations that were faced was the accuracy of the measurement
due to the beer foam being unclear at the top, which can be assumed that some heights had slight errors.
Putting account to friction, its scientifically proven that friction is present within all surfaces which might
have also been another limitation making the data slightly off. In addition it is shown through the
represented data that time has a 0.001 uncertainty while height has a 0.05 uncertainty this adds to the
limitation of accuracy. In futuristic experiments this data should be represented with additional trials to
reduce the inaccuracy of the data. However the strengths of this experiment included the longevity of the
time allowing multiple data points to be made which made the graph representation more accurate.
Running Head: THE DECAY OF RADIOACTIVE NUCLEI 6