- #1
ghetom
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Hi I'm trying to do a question on nuclear decay chains. The question is:
Bi-210 decays to Po-210 by beta decay (half life = 7.2 days), and this decays by alpha decay to Pb-208 (half life = 200 decays). If A substance is initially pure Bi-210, when does the alpha emmision peak?
So far I've got
Bi(0)=1, Po(0)=Pb(0)=o
Bi(t) = Bi(0)exp(-Lt)
(L being the decay constant, t_1/2 = ln(2)/L)
and
dPo(t)/dt = LBi(t) -L'Po(t)
so
dPo(t)/dt = L(Bi(0)exp(-Lt)) -L'Po(t)Obviously I just need to find when Po(t) is at a maximum, to find the corresponding maximum in alpha emmision, but I can't solve for Po(t). (I tryed dPo/dt = 0, but i still don't have an answer for Po(t) )can anyone help?
Bi-210 decays to Po-210 by beta decay (half life = 7.2 days), and this decays by alpha decay to Pb-208 (half life = 200 decays). If A substance is initially pure Bi-210, when does the alpha emmision peak?
So far I've got
Bi(0)=1, Po(0)=Pb(0)=o
Bi(t) = Bi(0)exp(-Lt)
(L being the decay constant, t_1/2 = ln(2)/L)
and
dPo(t)/dt = LBi(t) -L'Po(t)
so
dPo(t)/dt = L(Bi(0)exp(-Lt)) -L'Po(t)Obviously I just need to find when Po(t) is at a maximum, to find the corresponding maximum in alpha emmision, but I can't solve for Po(t). (I tryed dPo/dt = 0, but i still don't have an answer for Po(t) )can anyone help?
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