Q.

To determine the half-life of a radioactive element, a student plots a graph of ln|dN(t)dt| versus t. Here, |dN(t)dt| is the rate of radioactive decay at time t. If the number of radioactive nuclei of this element decreases by a factor of p after 4.16 years, the value of p is                            [2010]


Ans.

(8)

 We know that  N=N0e-λt

∴  dNdt=N0e-λt(-λ)=-λN0e-λt

Taking log on both sides,

loge|dNdt|=loge(λN0)-λt

Comparing it with the graph line,

Decay constant,  λ=12 yr-1         [ACBC=12]

∴  T1/2=0.693λ=0.693×2=1.386 years

n(t1/2)=4.16

∴  n=4.161.386≈3

∴  N=N0(12)3

∴  1P=18

∴  P=8