Fundamentals of Physics Extended (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1-11823-072-8
ISBN 13: 978-1-11823-072-5

Chapter 42 - Nuclear Physics - Problems - Page 1305: 49a

Answer

The fraction of plutonium that is left is $~~1.2\times 10^{-17}$

Work Step by Step

When half of a sample of $^{238}U$ has decayed, the time that has passed is $4.5\times 10^9~y$ We can express this time period as the number of half-lives of plutonium: $\frac{4.5\times 10^9~y}{8.0\times 10^7~y} = 56.25$ We can find the fraction of plutonium that is left: $(\frac{1}{2})^{56.25} = 1.2\times 10^{-17}$ The fraction of plutonium that is left is $~~1.2\times 10^{-17}$
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