Asked by Mary
On Monday you helped me to understand and answer the one question, but I am not too sure if they want all the calculations that you answered... regretably, I am still a bit lost with these!
Below is the question as it is printed:
The isotope caesium-137, which has a half-life of 30 years, is a product of nuclear power plants. How long will it take for the amount of this isotope in a sample of caesium to decay to one-sixteenth of its original amount? Explain your answer. (A few sentences)
.......... the reason why I think I do not need the calculations is because it asks for a FEW SENTENCES, am I right in my thinking? If so, can you pls help me with what I should write?
If I remember the problem right, I think I worked it incorrectly ( that is I don't remember how I worked it but I seem to remember an answer of 40+ years). I don't know what went wrong, assuming I remember correctly. The correct answer is 120 years.
It will take 30 years for 1/2 of Cs-137 to decay (leaving 1/2), 60 years for 1/2 of that to decay (leaving 1/4), 90 years for 1/2 of the 1/4 to decay (leaving 1/8), and 120 years for 1/2 of the 1/8 to decay (leaving 1/16).
Below is the question as it is printed:
The isotope caesium-137, which has a half-life of 30 years, is a product of nuclear power plants. How long will it take for the amount of this isotope in a sample of caesium to decay to one-sixteenth of its original amount? Explain your answer. (A few sentences)
.......... the reason why I think I do not need the calculations is because it asks for a FEW SENTENCES, am I right in my thinking? If so, can you pls help me with what I should write?
If I remember the problem right, I think I worked it incorrectly ( that is I don't remember how I worked it but I seem to remember an answer of 40+ years). I don't know what went wrong, assuming I remember correctly. The correct answer is 120 years.
It will take 30 years for 1/2 of Cs-137 to decay (leaving 1/2), 60 years for 1/2 of that to decay (leaving 1/4), 90 years for 1/2 of the 1/4 to decay (leaving 1/8), and 120 years for 1/2 of the 1/8 to decay (leaving 1/16).
Answers
There are no human answers yet.
There are no AI answers yet. The ability to request AI answers is coming soon!
Submit Your Answer
We prioritize human answers over AI answers.
If you are human, and you can answer this question, please submit your answer.