43.37: a) We need to know how many decays per second occur.

0.693 0.693
λ= = =1.79 ×10 −9 s −1.
T1 2 (12 .3 y) (3.156 ×10 7 s y)
1 dN (0.35 Ci) (3.70 ×10 10 Bq Ci )
The number of tritium atoms is N (0) = =
λ dt 1.79 ×10 −9 s −1
⇒ N (0) = 7.2540 × 1018 nuclei. The number of remaining nuclei after one week is just
−9 −1
N (1 week ) = N (0)e −λt = (7.25 ×10 18 )e −(1.79 ×10 s ) ( 7 ) ( 24 ) ( 3600 s ) ⇒ N (1 week) = 7.2462 ×10 18
nuclei ⇒ ∆N = N (0) − N (1 week) = 7.8 ×10 15 decays. So the energy absorbed
−19
is Etotal = ∆N ⋅ Eγ = (7.8 ×10 ) (5000 eV) (1.60 ×10 J eV ) = 6.24 J. So the
15

(6.24 J)
absorbed dose is (50 kg) = 0.125 J kg =12 .5 rad. Since RBE = 1, then the
equivalent dose is
12.5 rem.
b) In the decay, antinentrinos are also emitted. These are not absorbed by the body,
and so some of the energy of the decay is lost (about 12 keV ).