An accident in a nuclear laboratory resulted in deposition of a certai...
Required activity
Time required = 6 half lives
= 6 x 18 days
= 108 days.
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An accident in a nuclear laboratory resulted in deposition of a certai...
Given Data:
- Half-life of the radioactive material = 18 days
- Radiation level in the laboratory = 64 times more than the permissible level
Calculating the Minimum Number of Days:
- Since the radiation level is 64 times more than the permissible level, we need to wait for the radiation to decrease to a safe level.
- The rule of thumb is that it takes about 10 half-lives for a radioactive material to decay to a safe level.
- Therefore, the minimum number of days required for the laboratory to be considered safe for use can be calculated as 10 times the half-life of the radioactive material.
- 10 x 18 days = 180 days
Final Calculation:
- However, since the radiation level is 64 times more than the permissible level, we need to consider this factor as well.
- Therefore, the minimum number of days required for the laboratory to be considered safe for use is 180 days / 64 = 2.8125 days.
- Since we cannot wait for a fraction of a day, we need to round up to the nearest whole number.
- Therefore, the laboratory can be considered safe for use after approximately 3 half-lives, which is 3 x 18 days = 54 days.
Conclusion:
- The minimum number of days after which the laboratory can be considered safe for use is 54 days.
- Therefore, the correct option is (c) 108 days.