The radioactive source in most smoke detectors is 241Am, which has a half-life of 432 years. In a typical detector, only about 0.100 mg of this material is needed.
(a) Write down its alpha decay equation and predict the product nucleus.
(b) What is the initial source activity?
(c) What would be the source’s activity after 40 years in operation?
(d) How many 241Am, nuclei would have decayed in this 40-year period?