Example 1.

Dertermine the age of a bone found in a palentological excavation if the concentration of 14C is
1/10000 of the original amount. Half-life of 14C is 5730 years

𝑀 𝑡 =𝑀 𝑒 𝑡𝐿𝑛2
𝐿𝑛10000 =
1/100 = 1% 5730
1
𝑀 𝑡 = 𝑀
10000 (5730)𝐿𝑛10000
=𝑡
1 1 𝐿𝑛2
1
𝑀 =𝑀 𝑒
10000 𝑡 = 76138.5919 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠
1
= 𝑒
10000
1 1
1
𝐿𝑛 = 𝐿𝑛 𝑒
10000

0 𝑡𝐿𝑛2
𝐿𝑛1 − 𝐿𝑛10000 = −
5730

𝑡𝐿𝑛2
−𝐿𝑛10000 = −
5730
Example 2. If a radioactive substance reduces 1/6 of its mass in 30 years. Calculate its half life.
1 1
1
𝑀 𝑡 =𝑀 𝑒 𝐿𝑛 = 𝐿𝑛 𝑒
6
1 0
𝑀 𝑡 = 𝑀 30𝐿𝑛2
6 𝐿𝑛1 − 𝐿𝑛6 = −
1 𝑇
𝑀 =𝑀 𝑒
6 30𝐿𝑛2
1 1 𝐿𝑛6 =
1 𝑇
𝑀 =𝑀 𝑒
6 30𝐿𝑛2
𝑇=
1 𝐿𝑛6
=𝑒
6
𝑇 = 11.6056 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠
Exercise 1. Dertermine the age of a bone found in a archeological excavation if the concentration of 14C is
1/5000 of the original amount. Half-life of 14C is 5730 years

Exercise 2. Dertermine the age of a bone found in a archeological excavation if the concentration of 14C is 0.01%
of the original amount. Half-life of 14C is 5730 years

Exercise 3. Dertermine the age of a bone found in a archeological excavation if the concentration of 14C is
5.2x10-4 of the original amount. Half-life of 14C is 5730 years
Exercise 4. If a radioactive substance reduces 1/60 of its mass in 15 years. Calculate its half life.

Exercise 5. If a radioactive substance reduces 1/500 of its mass in 15000 years. Calculate its half life.

Exercise 6. If a radioactive substance reduces 1/2 of its mass in 3000 years. Calculate its half life.