soopo
Apr15-09, 10:47 AM
1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data
The initial activity of I_131 is 0.74MBq.
The half time of I_131 is 8 days.
How large is the activity after two days?
2. Relevant equations
A = A_0 e^{-\lambda t}
3. The attempt at a solution
We know
t = 2 days
A_0 = 0.74 MBq
T_0.5 = 8 days
1. Solve the activity constant
\lambda = ln2 / T_0.5
2. Plug it to the equation
A = A_0 e^{(-ln2 / T_0.5) * t}
I standardise the units to SI and then omit/cancel them
A = 0.74E6 * e^{-ln2 / 4}
= 6.22E5 Bq
---
The right answer is 0.4 times what I get
A = 0.4 * 6.22E5 Bq
= 250 kBq
I am not sure where the 0.4 is got.
The initial activity of I_131 is 0.74MBq.
The half time of I_131 is 8 days.
How large is the activity after two days?
2. Relevant equations
A = A_0 e^{-\lambda t}
3. The attempt at a solution
We know
t = 2 days
A_0 = 0.74 MBq
T_0.5 = 8 days
1. Solve the activity constant
\lambda = ln2 / T_0.5
2. Plug it to the equation
A = A_0 e^{(-ln2 / T_0.5) * t}
I standardise the units to SI and then omit/cancel them
A = 0.74E6 * e^{-ln2 / 4}
= 6.22E5 Bq
---
The right answer is 0.4 times what I get
A = 0.4 * 6.22E5 Bq
= 250 kBq
I am not sure where the 0.4 is got.