Nuclear Decay with time (half-life,initial activity/ nuclei)

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the relationship between half-life, the initial number of unstable nuclei, and initial activity in the context of nuclear decay. Participants explore formulas related to activity and decay, aiming to clarify how these concepts interrelate.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation, Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks a formula that explicitly relates initial activity (A0) to the initial number of unstable nuclei (N0) and the decay constant.
  • Another participant suggests that activity can be understood as a derivative, implying a relationship between decay and time.
  • A question is posed regarding whether the formula A0 = N0 * decay constant is correct.
  • A later reply confirms the correctness of the previous statement.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants appear to agree on the relationship expressed in the formula A0 = N0 * decay constant, but the overall discussion remains focused on clarifying the broader context of these relationships without reaching a consensus on all aspects.

Contextual Notes

The discussion does not resolve the specific mathematical steps or assumptions underlying the formulas mentioned, such as the exact nature of the decay constant or its derivation.

Treeps
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Hi! I just keep having a hard time looking for the formula stating the relationship between half life, the initial number of unstable nuclei and the initial activity, can someone help me on that ?

To be more specific, here is a problem which can be solved using that formula:
"A substance has a half life of 100s, and starts with 1020 unstable nuclei.Calculate the initial activity, and from this work out the time taken for all of the nuclei to decay if the activity did not decrease with time"

The only formulas I could find were:
A (final activity)= A0*e-decay constant*time
N (final number of nuclei)= N0*e-decay constant*time
But nothing clearing expressing the relationship between A0 and N0
 
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Activity is the process of nuclei "going away" (decaying) - a derivative should help.
 
Euh is it A0=N0*decay constant ?
 
Ok, thanks for your help !
 

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