Finding the Half Life From Activity

AI Thread Summary
To determine the half-life from activity data, the initial assumption is that it occurs when the activity is halved. The user calculated a half-life of 2.34 minutes based on halving the initial activity of 36,506, but the textbook states the half-life is 1 minute. Confusion arises as the user questions how the answer can be in minutes when the timing spans hours. A review of the table indicates that the correct half-life is indeed 1 minute, not 2.34 hours. Clarification on the relationship between activity and time is needed to resolve the discrepancy.
Procrastinate
Messages
155
Reaction score
0
I am meant to deduce the half life from this table (as attached.) I was under the impression that the half life would occur when the initial activity was halved but my answer of 2.34 minutes (from halving the initial activity of 36506) is wrong. Instead, the answer the textbook got was 1 minute. What did I do wrong?
 

Attachments

  • Physics.png
    Physics.png
    4.2 KB · Views: 491
Physics news on Phys.org
Are you sure these things are related? How can the answer be in minutes when the timing was over hours?
 
The answer was one minute and I got an 2.34 hours (my mistake.) I'm not sure what to do now...
 
The answer of one minute does not match with this question.A quick glance at the table shows the answer is over two hours.
 
TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'
Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
Back
Top