At a given time there are 25% undecayed nuclei in a sample. After 10 s...
Half-life of radioactive sample, i.e., the time in which the number of undecayed nuclei becomes half (T) is 10 s.
Mean life, τ=T/loge2=10s/0.693=1.443×10=14.43s ≈ 15s
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At a given time there are 25% undecayed nuclei in a sample. After 10 s...
Ac to question it can b concludedthat half life is 10 sec, from which rate constant can b calc . As ln2/half time . 1/rate constant is mean life.
At a given time there are 25% undecayed nuclei in a sample. After 10 s...
Given:
- At a given time, there are 25% undecayed nuclei in a sample.
- After 10 seconds, the number of undecayed nuclei reduces to 12.5%.
To find:
The mean life of the nuclei.
Solution:
The decay of radioactive nuclei follows an exponential decay law, which can be expressed as:
N = N0 * e^(-λt)
Where:
- N is the number of undecayed nuclei at time t.
- N0 is the initial number of undecayed nuclei.
- λ is the decay constant.
- t is the time interval.
Step 1:
Let's assume the initial number of undecayed nuclei (N0) is 100 (for easy calculations). Therefore, at the given time, there are 25 undecayed nuclei.
N = 25
N0 = 100
Step 2:
After 10 seconds, the number of undecayed nuclei reduces to 12.5%. This means N = 12.5.
N = N0 * e^(-λt)
12.5 = 100 * e^(-λ * 10)
Step 3:
To find the decay constant (λ), we can rearrange the equation:
e^(-λ * 10) = 12.5 / 100
e^(-λ * 10) = 0.125
Step 4:
Take the natural logarithm (ln) of both sides to solve for λ:
ln(e^(-λ * 10)) = ln(0.125)
-λ * 10 * ln(e) = ln(0.125)
-10λ = ln(0.125)
Step 5:
Solve for λ:
λ = ln(0.125) / -10
Step 6:
Now, we can use the decay constant (λ) to find the mean life of the nuclei (τ):
τ = 1 / λ
τ = 1 / (ln(0.125) / -10)
By calculating the above expression, we get the mean life of the nuclei to be approximately 15 seconds.
Therefore, the correct option is (d) 15 seconds.