Question #3594d

1 Answer
Apr 10, 2017

The amount left is =0.0625g

Explanation:

The half life of Cobalt 60 is t_(1/2)=5.25 years

The radioactive decay constant is lambda=ln2/(t_(1/2))

So,

lambda=ln2/(5.25)=0.69/(5.25 )

= 0.1320(years^-1)

We apply the equation

A=A_0*e^(-lamdat)

The activity is proportional to the mass.

m=m_0*e^(-lamdat)

m=1*e^-(0.1314*21)

m=1*e^-2.773

m=1*0.0625

m=0.0625g

We can do this differently

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Every half life, the amount is divided by 2

21/5.25=4 times

So the initial amount is divided by

1/16=0.625