Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach with Modern Physics (3rd Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0321740904
ISBN 13: 978-0-32174-090-8

Chapter 41 - Atomic Physics - Exercises and Problems - Page 1245: 17

Answer

${\bf 2.0}\%$

Work Step by Step

We need to find the probability of decay over a short interval $\Delta t = 0.50 \, \text{ns}$, compared to the total lifetime $\tau = 25 \, \text{ns}$. We know that the probability of decay during the interval $\Delta t$ can be expressed as: $$ \text{Prob(decay in } \Delta t) = r \Delta t $$ where the decay rate $r$ is given by $r = \dfrac{1}{\tau}$, so $$ \text{Prob(decay in } \Delta t) = \dfrac{\Delta t}{\tau} $$ Plug the known; $$ \text{Prob(decay in } \Delta t) = \frac{0.5}{ 25}= \bf 0.020 =\color{red}{\bf 2.0}\% $$
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