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#1 2007-09-18 18:33:19

Jim Lahey
Guest

Half-Life Question

You're given a small rock containing an unknown isotope. You place a geiger counter next to and observe 1600 disintegration/sec at t=0 and 300 dis./sec 5 hours later. What is the half life of the isotope and the number of atoms present at t=0? Use calculu to solve

Plz help!

#2 2007-09-18 22:14:07

JaneFairfax
Member
Registered: 2007-02-23
Posts: 6,868

Re: Half-Life Question

Solve the two equations for α and N[sub]0[/sub]. To find the half-life, substitute N = ½N[sub]0[/sub] in the first equation.
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Last edited by JaneFairfax (2007-09-18 22:40:00)

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