Jono_2007
Member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2005
- Messages
- 139
- Gender
- Male
- HSC
- 2007
SoulSearcher said:A radioactive substance is decaying at a rate proportional to its mass. Its mass initially is measured at 37.4 grams. Twelve hours later the mass is measured at 31.7 grams. Find:
(i) the decay constant
(ii) the half-life of the substance
In(N/N0)=k.t
i)In (31.7/37.4)=12k
-0.165354023=12k
:.k=-0.01377950 hrs^-1
ii)N=N0.e^-k. t
(1/2)N=N0.e^-0.01377950. t
(1/2)=e^-0.01377950. t
In (1/2)=In. (e^-0.01377950)
In (1/2)=-0.01377950. t
:. t=In (1/2)/(-0.01377950)
therefore the halflife is 50.302 hours
i)In (31.7/37.4)=12k
-0.165354023=12k
:.k=-0.01377950 hrs^-1
ii)N=N0.e^-k. t
(1/2)N=N0.e^-0.01377950. t
(1/2)=e^-0.01377950. t
In (1/2)=In. (e^-0.01377950)
In (1/2)=-0.01377950. t
:. t=In (1/2)/(-0.01377950)
therefore the halflife is 50.302 hours
Last edited: