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 42 - Nuclear Physics - Exercises and Problems - Page 1275: 52

Answer

${\bf 0.371}$

Work Step by Step

We have a 100 g sample that contains two radioactive isotopes: 1. $ ^{131}\text{Ba} $ with a half-life of 12 days. 2. $ ^{47}\text{Ca} $ with a half-life of 4.5 days. Initially, there are twice as many $ ^{47}\text{Ca} $ atoms as $ ^{131}\text{Ba} $ atoms. $$ (N_0)_{\text{Ca}} = 2 (N_0)_{\text{Ba}} \tag 1$$ We need to find the ratio of calcium atoms to barium atoms after 2.5 weeks (or 17.5 days). The number of atoms remaining at any time $ t $ is given by $$ N = N_0 e^{-t / \tau}\tag 2 $$ where $ \tau $ is the mean lifetime where $ t_{1/2} $ by $ \tau = \frac{t_{1/2}}{\ln (2)} $ The ratio of $ ^{47}\text{Ca} $ atoms to $ ^{131}\text{Ba} $ atoms after $ t = 17.5 $ days is given by (2); $$ \frac{N_{\text{Ca}}}{N_{\text{Ba}}} = \frac{(N_0)_{\text{Ca}} e^{-\ln (2)t /(t_{1/2})_{\text{Ca}}}}{(N_0)_{\text{Ba}} e^{-\ln (2)t /(t_{1/2})_{\text{Ba}}}} $$ Plug form (1); $$ \frac{N_{\text{Ca}}}{N_{\text{Ba}}} = \frac{2(\color{red}{\bf\not} N_0)_{\text{Ba}} e^{-\ln (2)t /(t_{1/2})_{\text{Ca}}}}{(\color{red}{\bf\not} N_0)_{\text{Ba}} e^{-\ln (2)t /(t_{1/2})_{\text{Ba}}}} $$ Plug the known; $$ \frac{N_{\text{Ca}}}{N_{\text{Ba}}} = \frac{ 2e^{-\ln (2)(17.5) /(4.5) }}{ e^{-\ln (2)(17.5) / (12)}}=\color{red}{\bf 0.371} $$
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