Purpose
As is well known, each measurement made for a radioactive sample is independent of all previous measurements, because
radioactive decay is a random process. Repeated individual measurements of the activity vary randomly. However, for an ensemble
comprising a large number of repeated, individual measurements, the deviation of the individual counts from what might be termed
the "ensemble average count" behaves in a predictable manner. Small deviations from the average are much more likely than large
deviations. In this experiment, we will see that the frequency of occurrence of a particular deviation from this average, within a given
size interval, can be determined with a certain degree of confidence. Fifty independent measurements will be made, and some rather
simple statistical treatments of the data will be performed. The experiment utilizes a
60Co source which has a half-life that is very long
compared to the measurement time. The 5.26-year half-life ensures that the activity can be considered constant for the duration of the
experiment.