CALCULATIONS OF HALF-LIFE [Mbuzi C]

Prerequisite knowledge of learners;

(i) Meaning of ∆𝑥, ∆𝑦.
(ii) Proportions.
(iii) Meaning of ∝.
(iv) The mole and Avogadro constant.
(v) Graphs
(vi) Differentiation and integration.
(a) In this first part we want leaners to appreciate the concept of
activity or rate of decay.
Let us suppose we have an amount 𝑁 of a radioactive substance.
Suppose also that we want to determine the amount, ∆𝑁, which
will decay in a given time interval, ∆𝑡. Then the amount decay
will proportional to both amount 𝑁 and time interval, ∆𝑡. We
then write;
∆𝑁 ∝ 𝑁 (1)

∆𝑁 ∝ ∆𝑡 (2)

Combining equations (1) and (2) we obtain,

∆𝑁 ∝ 𝑁∆𝑡 (3)

We then form an equation by introducing a proportionality

constant, say 𝜆, and obtain;
∆𝑁 = 𝜆𝑁∆𝑡 (4)

The proportionality constant 𝜆 is the decay constant. It is

important to let learners be aware that the decay constant is a
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physical characteristic property of radioactive substance, just
like density of melting point. We can give examples of these values
for a few substances; C-14, 𝜆 = 3.83 × 10−12 /𝑠. We should
discuss with learners the implications of this value. It is very
small so the speed of decay is quite low.
We next use the result from (4) to formulate the activity. If we
ask learners to divide through by the time interval ∆𝑡, they should
obtain;
∆𝑁
− ∆𝑡 = 𝜆𝑁 (5)

Ask learners to state the meaning of the fraction ∆𝑁/∆𝑡 and its
units. It is the rate of decay, referred to as the activity.
Equation (5) should allow learners to calculate activity for any
amount N of radioactive substance. E.g. What is the rate of decay
for an initial mass of 1.4 g of carbon-14?
Here, learners should first mass, 1.4 g, to amount.
1.4
𝑁=[ ] × 6.02 × 1023 = 6.02 × 1022 atoms
14
∆𝑁
Then, ∆𝑡
= 𝜆𝑁 = 3.83 × 10−12 × 6.02 × 1022 = 2.31 × 1011
Since this rate was calculated from an initial mass/ amount, it is
the initial rate or activity. Ask learners to state the units and you
may also ask them to express the rate in grams/s.

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(b) We now use the activity equation to solve for the amount
remaining, 𝑵, from an initial amount, 𝑵𝒐 .
Now, here, we have to ask learners to recall what they learnt in
calculus and allow them to try the following.
The activity for a time interval ∆𝑡 is ∆𝑁/∆𝑡 = 𝜆𝑁. For an
infinitesimal time 𝑑𝑡, the activity becomes;
𝑑𝑁
− = 𝜆𝑁 (6)
𝑑𝑡

Rearranging, we should obtain;

𝑑𝑁
𝑁
= −𝜆𝑑𝑡 (7)

Integrating from 𝑁𝑜 𝑡𝑜 𝑁 for time interval 0 𝑡𝑜 𝑡, we have,

𝑁 𝑡
𝑑𝑁
∫ = − ∫ 𝜆𝑑𝑡
𝑁
𝑁𝑜 0

Which gives,
𝑁
𝐼𝑛 [𝑁 ] = −𝜆𝑡
𝑜

Taking the inverse of 𝐼𝑛, we obtain,

𝑁
[𝑁 ] = 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡
𝑜

Then solving for 𝑁, we obtain,

𝑁 = 𝑁𝑜 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡 (8)

This equation gives the amount remaining 𝑁 from the initial

amount 𝑁𝑜 .

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From equation (8) we can calculate the fraction remaining,
which is just,
𝑁
= 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡
𝑁𝑜
We can also express equation (8) in terms of activity. Introducing
𝜆 on both sides of equation (8), we have;
𝜆𝑁 = 𝜆𝑁𝑜 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡 (9)

We can now write equation (8) as,

∆𝑁 ∆𝑁 𝑖
∆𝑡
= [ ∆𝑡 ] 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡 (10)

∆𝑁 𝑖
where [ ∆𝑡 ] is the initial rate.
Now, we had to obtain equation (10) because most exponential
decay graphs in exams are a plot of activity against time.
Both equations (8) and (10) give a decay exponential graphs from
which half-life can be determined.

(c) At this point we are ready to introduce the concept of half-life, as

defined in the syllabus.
Time taken for activity to reduce by half of the original substance
(Decay curves).
(p 47)

The half-life, 𝑡1/2 , of a radioactive isotope can be obtained in two

ways; either,

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(i) from the exponential graphs of equation of equation (8) or (10)
or
(ii) from calculation.
∆𝑁 1 ∆𝑁 𝑖
From calculation, using equation (10), at 𝑡1/2 , = [ ].
∆𝑡 2 ∆𝑡
Substituting this in equation (10), we obtain,
1 ∆𝑁 𝑖 ∆𝑁 𝑖
[ ] =[ ] 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡
2 ∆𝑡 ∆𝑡

∆𝑁 𝑖
Then [ ∆𝑡 ] cancels to give,
1
= 𝑒−𝜆𝑡1/2
2
which is just,

𝑒 𝜆𝑡1/2 = 2
Taking the inverse of 𝑒, we get,
𝜆𝑡1/2 = 𝐼𝑛2 = 0.693
Thus,
0.693
𝑡1/2 = 𝜆
(11)

Ask learners to state the relationship between 𝑡1/2 and 𝜆 and its
implication.

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(d) The fraction remaining from the number of half-lives

The number of half-lives 𝑛 in a given time interval, ∆𝑡, is;

𝑛 = ∆𝑡/𝑡1/2

The amount remaining after a given number of half-lives 𝑛 is;

1 𝑛
𝑁 = 𝑁𝑜 ⌈ ⌉ (12)
2

Then the fraction remaining after n half-lives is;

𝑁 1 𝑛
=⌈ ⌉ (13)
𝑁𝑜 2

From this we calculate the fraction decayed, ∆𝑁/𝑁𝑜, since,

𝑁 ∆𝑁
+ =1
𝑁𝑜 𝑁𝑜

The fraction decayed is;

∆𝑁 𝑁
= 1− (14)
𝑁𝑜 𝑁𝑜

Also, since from equation we had

𝑁
𝑁𝑜
= 𝑒 −𝜆𝑡

equation (13) implies that,

𝑛
−𝜆𝑡 1
𝑒 = ⌈2 ⌉ (15)

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(e) Examples from ECZ past papers
1. A radioactive substance has a half-life of 15 minutes. If the original
mass is 10 kg what mass remains undecayed after1 hr. (MC 2015).
𝑛
1
𝑚 = 𝑚𝑜 ⌈ ⌉
2
60
𝑛 = ∆𝑡/𝑡1/2 = 15 = 4

1 4
𝑚 = 10 ⌈ ⌉ = 0.625 𝑘𝑔
2

2. 𝐴

40

30

20 ●

10 ●
●

0 2 4 6 8 𝑡
15
How long does it take for of M to decay?
16