SOLUTION: The half life of radioactive element plutonium-239 is 20 years.
How long will it take for a sample of this substance to decay to 60% of its original amount?
Algebra ->
Customizable Word Problem Solvers
-> Misc
-> SOLUTION: The half life of radioactive element plutonium-239 is 20 years.
How long will it take for a sample of this substance to decay to 60% of its original amount?
Log On
Question 812540: The half life of radioactive element plutonium-239 is 20 years.
How long will it take for a sample of this substance to decay to 60% of its original amount? Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! The half life of radioactive element plutonium-239 is 20 years.
How long will it take for a sample of this substance to decay to 60% of its original amount?
:
The radioactive decay formula: A = Ao*2^(-t/h), where:
A = resulting amt after t time
Ao = initial amt (t=0)
t = time of decay
h = half-life of substance
:
Let initial amt = 1
2^(-t/20) = .6 =
t = -.7369656 * -20
t = 14.74 yrs