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: 49b

Answer

The fraction of plutonium that is left is so small that it is essentially zero. We can assume that all of the original sample of plutonium would decay after this length of time.

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 curium: $\frac{4.5\times 10^9~y}{3.4\times 10^5~y} = 13,235$ We can find the fraction of curium that is left: $(\frac{1}{2})^{13,235} \approx 0$ The fraction of plutonium that is left is so small that it is essentially zero. We can assume that all of the original sample of plutonium would decay after this length of time.
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