Radiactive Decay Half Life (T1/2)
In a collection of a great many identical radioactive isostopes, the half- life (T1/2) of the sample is the time it takes for half of the samples to decay.
Question: If the half life of a certain isotope is 4 years, what fraction of a sample of that isotope will remain after 12 years.
2007-10-03 07:44:48 · 2 answers · asked by pooey_1980 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
After 4 years, 1/2 of it has decayed.
After 8 years, 3/4 of it has decayed.
After 12 years, 7/8 of it has decayed.
Therefore, only 1/8 remains after 12 years.
2007-10-03 07:51:34 · answer #1 · answered by Michael B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The person above me is correct, simply cut it every four years, three times in total.
1 to begin with
1/2 after 4 years
1/4 after 8
1/8 after all 12
2007-10-03 14:53:43 · answer #2 · answered by . 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋