A radioactive isotope decays according to the equation where Nt is the amount of sample at
time t. N0 is the original amount of sample, and lambda is the decay constant. An unknown
amount of an unidentified isotope is left to decay, and periodic measurements of the remaining
isotope are recorded in the table below. What is lambda, the decay constant? What is NQ, the
original amount of radioactive material?
Solution
take two values
dividing proporttionally
1.5/5.11=e^((31-11))
=0.0613/day
time t. N0 is the original amount of sample, and lambda is the decay constant. An unknown
amount of an unidentified isotope is left to decay, and periodic measurements of the remaining
isotope are recorded in the table below. What is lambda, the decay constant? What is NQ, the
original amount of radioactive material?
Solution
take two values
dividing proporttionally
1.5/5.11=e^((31-11))
=0.0613/day
