Rate of Decay Formula
The rate of decay for radioactive particles is a first order decay process. This means it follows an exponential decay pattern which can be easily calculated.
Nt = the amount of radioactive particles are time (t)
N0 = the amount of radioactive particles at time = 0
λ = rate of decay constantt = time
Taking the natural log of both sides of this equation (remember it is an exponential decay) will yield:
Rate of Decay Formula Questions:
1. Calculate the rate of decay constant for U-238 if its half-life is 4.468 × 109 years.
Answer:
If the problem is referring to the half-life, then the ratio of = 0.5 because half of the original sample has already undergone decay.
1.55 x 10-10 years-1 =λ
2. Calculate how long it will take for 25% of a U-238 sample to radioactively decay.
Answer:
If 25% of the sample has undergone radioactive decay, then the ratio of = 0.75 because 75 percent of the original sample remains. The rate of decay constant for U-238 will be used from the previous problem.
1.86 x 109 years = t
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