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amanaka2004
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Homework Statement
The half life of radioactive Uranium II is about 250,000 years. What percent of radioactive uranium will remain after 10,000 years?
D H said:silvashadow, did you read the rules? Do not post complete solutions to homework problems. Our job is to help students learn. Simply giving the answers is not helping them.
Even more importantly, do not post incorrect solutions. The algebraic approach is approximately correct.
amanaka, do you know what the relevant equations are for radioactive decay?
The rate of exponential decay can be calculated using the formula: N = N0e^(rt), where N is the final amount, N0 is the initial amount, e is the base of natural logarithm, r is the rate of decay, and t is the time in years. For 10,000 years and Uranium II, we can plug in the values and solve for r to determine the decay rate.
10,000 years is a commonly used time frame when studying exponential decay, as it is a significant amount of time in the context of geological and radiological processes. It is also a practical timeframe to study, as it allows for observable changes in decay rates.
Uranium II (also known as uranium-235) is a radioactive isotope that is commonly used in nuclear reactions and has a half-life of 703.8 million years. This means that after 10,000 years, a significant portion of uranium II would have decayed, making it a useful element to study in the context of exponential decay.
No, the rate of exponential decay is constant and does not change over time. It is determined by the properties of the radioactive element and is not affected by external factors.
Exponential decay is used in various fields, such as nuclear physics, geology, and medicine. It is used to determine the age of fossils and artifacts, calculate the half-life of radioactive elements, and predict the behavior of nuclear reactions. It is also used in medical imaging and cancer treatment through the use of radioactive isotopes.