nuclei Question 30

Question: Q. 3. (i) Derive the relation between the decay constant and half life of a radioactive substance.

(ii) A radioactive element reduces to 25 of its initial mass in 1000 years. Find its half life.

U] [Foreign III 2017]

$$ \begin{aligned} & \text {

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Solution:

Ans. (i) } \ & \text { When } \quad t=T_{1 / 2} \ & \Rightarrow \quad N(t)=\frac{N_{0}}{2} \ & \therefore \quad \frac{N_{0}}{2}=N_{0} e^{-\lambda} T_{1 / 2} \ & \Rightarrow \quad \frac{1}{2}=e^{-\lambda} T_{1 / 2} \ & \Rightarrow \quad-\lambda T_{1 / 2}=-\ln 2 \ & \Rightarrow \mathrm{T}{1 / 2}=\frac{\ln 2}{\lambda}=\frac{0.693}{\lambda} \ & \frac{N}{N{0}}=\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{\mathrm{n}} \ & n=\frac{t}{T_{1 / 2}} \ & \frac{N}{N_{0}}=\frac{1}{4}=\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{\mathrm{n}} \ & \left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{\mathrm{n}}=\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)^{2} \end{aligned} $$

Number of half lives =2

1000T1/2=2 T1/2=10002 =500 years 

Alternatively :

1000 years =2 half lives 

 Half life =500 years 

[CBSE Marking Scheme 2017]

Commonly Made Error

  • Some students use the wrong formula do wrong substitution and hence get wrong result.
  • Many students get confused between substance left behind and the mass disintegrated.


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