Find the halflife in hours of a radioactive substance that i
Find the half-life (in hours) of a radioactive substance that is reduced by 40 percent in 45 hours.
Half life = _______(include units)
Half life = _______(include units)
Solution
mf = m0 (1/2)t/t1/2, mf/m0 = 4/10, t = 45 hr
4/10 = (1/2)(45hr)/t1/2
log1/2(4/10) = (45hr)/t1/2
t1/2 = (45hr)/(log1/2(4/10)) = (45hr)/(ln(4/10)/ln(1/2)) = ((45hr)ln(1/2))/ln(4/10)
t1/2 = 34.04118588147... hr 34 hr
The half-life is approximately 34 hours.
