A substance has a half-life of 10,000 years and an initial mass of 1,000 grams. How many years will pass before only 250 grams of the substance's parent material is left?
3 answers
1000...500....250 Isn't that two half years?
After 10 000 yrs, 1 000 / 2 = 500 grams of the substance's parent material is left.
After next 10 000 yrs, 500 / 2 = 250 grams of the substance's parent material is left.
10 000 yrs + 10 000 yrs = 20 000 yrs
After next 10 000 yrs, 500 / 2 = 250 grams of the substance's parent material is left.
10 000 yrs + 10 000 yrs = 20 000 yrs
I agree with Bosnian, I misread the half-life as 1000 years. Yes, two half lives is 20,000 years.