IB Physics HL E.3.13 Background radiation Question Bank
Practise IB Physics SL/HL E.3.13 by applying background radiation concepts to exam-style physics questions.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Course
- Physics HL
- Level
- HL
Practise IB Physics SL/HL E.3.13 by applying background radiation concepts to exam-style physics questions.
The graph shows the variation with time t of the activity A of a sample of protactinium-234.

Suggest why the activity approaches a non-zero constant value.
there is background radiation present
OR
there is a systematic error in the rate counter
Marking guidance:
Award [1] for an explanation that suggests that other radioactive elements of higher half-life could be present in the sample.