Tritium is a radioactive nucleide with a half life of 4500 days, determine the time for 90% of it to decay.

We know that the number of undecayed nuclei, N, is given by N=N0e-lambda t. From this, by setting N=N0/2 we know at this point that t= T0.5 (the half life) and can show that lambda =ln(2)/T0.5 . Hence we can calculate lambda as 1.54 x10-4 days-1. Now using the original form by setting N=0.1N0 we can get t = -ln(0.1)/lambda=14952 days.

LC
Answered by Luke C. Physics tutor

3103 Views

See similar Physics IB tutors

Related Physics IB answers

All answers ▸

The diagram below represents a balloon just before take-off. The balloon’s basket is attached to the ground by two fixing ropes.Calculate the tension in either of the fixing ropes.


What is Olbers' paradox?


Why is centripetal acceleration directed inwards to the centre of the circle during centripetal motion? If I’m in a car while it’s cornering, I seem to be pushed outwards away from the centre, not inwards.


Define electric potential at a point in an electric field.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences