View Full Version : Half Life
msjenkins521
Oct 22, 2009, 11:09 AM
If you have 400g of substance x, x has a half life of 20 seconds, after 1 minute, how much is left?
Unknown008
Oct 22, 2009, 11:16 AM
The equation for the half life of a substance is:
\large{N = N_o\, \times\, 2^{-\(\frac{t}{t_{\frac12}}\)}}
Where N is your final amount of substance, N_o the initial amount, t your time, t_0.5 your half life.
ebaines
Oct 22, 2009, 11:20 AM
This is more of a math or physics question than astronomy, but I'll take a shot at it:
If the half life is 20 seconds, that means that in each 20-second interval half of what you started with at the beginnng ofthat inerval is gone. So you start with 400g at T= 0 seconds, and at T=20 seconds you would have halfof 400g, or 200g left. 20 seconds later, at T=40 you would have half of the 200g, or 100g. Can you take it from here - how much material is left at T=60 seconds?
ebaines
Oct 22, 2009, 11:21 AM
The equation for the half life of a substance is:
\large{N = N_o\, \times\, 2^{\(\frac{t}{t_{\frac12}}\)}}
Where N is your final amount of substance, N_o the initial amount, t your time, t_0.5 your half life.
I think you need to divide N_o by 2^{\(\frac{t}{t_{\frac12}}\)} - not multiply.
Unknown008
Oct 22, 2009, 11:23 AM
Sorry, I realised my mistake a little late, I fixed it before you posted :o
msjenkins521
Oct 22, 2009, 11:28 AM
This is more of a math or physics question than astronomy, but I'll take a shot at it:
If the half life is 20 seconds, that means that in each 20-second interval half of what you started with at the beginnng ofthat inerval is gone. So you start with 400g at T= 0 seconds, and at T=20 seconds you would have halfof 400g, or 200g left. 20 seconds later, at T=40 you would have half of the 200g, or 100g. Can you take it from here - how much material is left at T=60 seconds?
Thank you very much