6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
RADIOACTIVE DECAY
PROBLEM SET
EASY
1. Find the half-life of a radioactive element, if its activity decreases for 1 month by
10%.
Solution:
Let Q = mass of radioactive isotope at time t
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
ln 2
Half Life: 𝜏 =? ; 𝑘=
𝜏
𝑡 ln 2
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 − 𝜏
𝑡𝑙𝑛2 𝑄(𝑡)
𝑒− 𝜏 =
𝑄𝑜
𝑡 ln 2 𝑄(𝑡) 𝑡 ln 2 𝑄(𝑡) 𝑡 ln 2 𝑄𝑜
ln 𝑒 − 𝜏 = ln ; − = ln ; = ln
𝑄𝑜 𝜏 𝑄𝑜 𝜏 𝑄(𝑡)
𝑡 ln(2)
𝜏=
𝑄𝑜
ln 𝑄(𝑡)
When 𝑡 = 30 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 ; 𝑄𝑜 = 100 ; 𝑄(𝑡) = 90
30 ln(2) 30 (0.693)
𝜏= =
100 0.105
ln 90
𝝉 = 𝟏𝟗𝟕. 𝟑 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒐𝒓 𝟏𝟗𝟖 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔
2. Find the mass of a radioactive isotope if 3 half-lives occurred. The initial mass of the
material was 80g.
Solution:
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
The mass of a radioactive material decreases as a result of decay twice after
1 3
each half life. So, after 3 half-lives the quantity of the material will be ( ) = 8 of the
2
1
initial amount. Hence, the mass after decay is 80𝑔 ∗ = 𝟏𝟎𝒈
8
3. A radioactive substance has a half-life of 1620 years. If its mass is now 4 g (grams),
how much will be left 810 years from now?
Solution:
Let Q = mass of radioactive isotope at time t
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
When 𝑡=0 ; 𝑄𝑜 = 4𝑔
𝑄(𝑡) = 4𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
ln 2 ln 2
Half Life: 𝜏 = 1620 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 ; 𝑘= =
𝜏 1620
𝑡𝑙𝑛2
−
𝑄(𝑡) = 4𝑒 1620
When 𝑡 = 810 ; 𝑄(𝑡) =?
(810) ln 2
𝑄(𝑡) = 4𝑒 − 1620
ln 2
𝑄(𝑡) = 4𝑒 − 2
𝑸(𝒕) = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟑 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒔
4. Radium decomposes at a rate proportional to the amount at any instant. In 100
years, 200 mg of radium decomposes to 105 mg. How many mg will be left after 100
years?
Solution:
Let Q = amount of substance present
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 0 𝑄 = 200𝑚𝑔
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
200𝑚𝑔 = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘(0)
𝑄𝑜 = 200𝑚𝑔
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 100 𝑄 = 105 𝑚𝑔
105 = 200𝑒 𝑘(100)
105
= 𝑒100𝑘
200
105
ln ( ) = ln 𝑒 100𝑘
200
105
𝑙𝑛 (200)
=𝑘
100
𝑘 = −0.006
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 200 𝑄 =?
𝑄 = 200𝑒 (−0.006)(200)
𝑄 = 200𝑒 −1.2
𝑸 = 𝟔𝟎. 𝟐𝟒 𝒎𝒈
5. How long does it take for precisely half of the carbon-14 in the sample to decay; that
is, when does m=50?
Solution:
Let Q= mass of carbon-14
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑄 = 100𝑒 −0.000121 𝑡
50 = 100𝑒 −0.000121 𝑡
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
50
𝑙𝑛 = ln 𝑒 −0.000121 𝑡
100
1
𝑙𝑛
2 =𝑡
−0.000121
𝒕 = 𝟓, 𝟕𝟐𝟖 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔
AVERAGE
6. Suppose that a certain radioactive isotope has an annual decay rate of 5%. How
many years will it take for a 100 gram sample to decay to 40 grams?
Solution:
Let Q = mass of radioactive isotope at time t
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
When 𝑄𝑜 = 100𝑔 ; 𝑘 = 0.05 ; 𝑄(𝑡) = 40𝑔
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
40 = 100𝑒 −(0.05)𝑡
0.4 = 𝑒 −0.05𝑡
ln(0.4) = ln(𝑒 −0.05𝑡 )
ln(0.4) = −0.05𝑡
ln(0.4)
=𝑡
−0.05
𝒕 = 𝟏𝟖. 𝟑𝟐𝟔 𝒐𝒓 𝟏𝟗 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔
7. Radium decomposes at a rate proportional to the amount present. If half of the
original amount disappears after 1000 years, what is the percentage lost in 100
years?
Solution:
Let Q= amount of radium present
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 0 𝑄 = 𝑄𝑜
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 1000 𝑄 = 0.5𝑄𝑜
0.5𝑄𝑜 = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘(1000)
0.5𝑄𝑜
𝑙𝑛 = 𝑙𝑛𝑒 1000𝑘
𝑄𝑜
ln 0.5
=𝑘
1000
𝑘 = −0.000693
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 100 𝑄 =?
𝑄 = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 (100)(−0.000693)
𝑄 = 0.933𝑄𝑜
𝑄0 − 0.933𝑄𝑜
%𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 = 𝑥 100
𝑄𝑜
%𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒕 = 𝟔. 𝟕%
8. In 100 years, 10 mg of radium decomposes to 96 mg. How many mg will be left after
300 years?
Solution:
Let Q = mass of radium (after 300 years)
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 100 𝑄 = 96 𝑄𝑜 = 100
96 = 100𝑒 100 𝑘
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
96
𝑙𝑛 = ln 𝑒 100 𝑘
100
96
𝑙𝑛
100 = 𝑘
100
𝑘 = −0.00041
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 300 𝑄 =?
𝑄 = 100𝑒 (−0.00041)(300)
𝑸 = 𝟖𝟖. 𝟒𝟑 𝒎𝒈
9. A 100 grams radioactive substance is known to have a half-life of 78 years. Calculate
the number of years it would take for this substance to decrease to 10% its original
amount.
Solution:
𝑡1/2 = 78 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠
𝑄𝑜 = 100 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠
𝑄 = 50 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 (ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑓 )
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
50 = 100𝑒 𝑘(78)
50
𝑙𝑛 = ln 𝑒 78 𝑘
100
1
𝑙𝑛
2= 𝑘
78
𝑘 = −0.0089
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
100 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 − (100𝑔 𝑥 0.1) = 90 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠
90 = 100𝑒 −0.0089 𝑡
90
𝑙𝑛 = ln 𝑒 −0.0089 𝑡
100
90
𝑙𝑛 100
=𝑡
−0.0089
𝒕 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟖𝟒 𝒐𝒓 𝟏𝟐 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔
10. Radium decomposes in air at the rate proportional to the present amount. If initially
there is 20 grams, and after 10 years, 0.6% of the original amount decomposed. (a)
What is the half-life of the radium? (b) What is the amount in 900 years?
Solution:
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 0 𝑄 = 20𝑔
20 = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘 (0)
𝑄𝑜 = 20
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 10 𝑄 = 20 − (20 𝑥 0.006) = 19.88𝑔
19.88 = 20𝑒 10 𝑘
19.88
𝑙𝑛 = ln 𝑒 10 𝑘
20
19.88
𝑙𝑛
20 = 𝑘
10
𝑘 = −0.0006
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
A.
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑄 = 10 𝑔 𝑡 =?
10 = 20𝑒 (−0.0006)𝑡
10
𝑙𝑛 = ln 𝑒 (−0.0006)𝑡
20
10
𝑙𝑛
20 = 𝑡
−0.0006
𝒕 = 𝟏, 𝟏𝟓𝟓 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔
B.
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 900
𝑄 = 20𝑒 (−0.0006)(900)
𝑸 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟔𝟓 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒔
HARD
11. A zircon sample contains 4000 atoms of the radioactive element 235U. Given that
235U has a half‐ life of 700 million years, how long would it take to decay to 125
atoms?
Solution:
Let Q – mass of radioactive material at time t
1
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 ( )−𝑘𝑡
2
When 𝑄𝑜 = 4000 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠 ; 𝑡 = 700 ; 𝑄(𝑡) = 125 𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑠
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑡
1 700
125 = 4000 ( )
2
𝑡
125 1 700
=( )
4000 2
125 t 1
ln ( )= ln ( )
4000 700 2
125
ln (
4000) = 𝑡
− ln(2) 700
𝑡
5=
700
𝒕 = 𝟑𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔
12. The radioactive isotope Indium-111 is often used for diagnosis and imaging in
nuclear medicine. Its half-life is 2.8 days. What was the initial mass of the isotope
before decay, if the mass in 2 weeks was 5g?
Solution:
Let Q = mass of radioactive isotope at time t
When 𝑡 = 214 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 ; 𝑄(𝑡) = 5𝑔
ln 2 ln 2
Half Life: 𝜏 = 2.8 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 ; 𝑘= =
𝜏 2.8
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
𝑄(𝑡) 𝑡 ln 2
𝑄𝑜 = = 𝑄(𝑡)𝑒 𝑘𝑡 = 𝑄(𝑡)𝑒 𝜏
𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
14 ln 2
𝑄𝑜 = 5𝑒 − 2.8
When 𝑡 = 810 ; 𝑄𝑜 =?
(810) ln 2
𝑄𝑜 = 4𝑒 1620
𝑄𝑜 = 4𝑒 −3.47
𝑸𝒐 = 𝟐. 𝟖𝟑 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒔
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6/16/24, 3:52 AM Differential Equation- Radioactive Decay Problem SET
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
PROBLEM SETS
TOPIC: RADIOACTIVE DECAY
13. Suppose that a certain radioactive element has an annual decay rate of 10%.
Starting with a 200 gram sample of the element, how many grams will be left in 3
years?
Solution:
Let Q – mass of radioactive element at time t
When 𝑄𝑜 = 200𝑔 ; 𝑘 = 0.10 ; 𝑡 = 3 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 −𝑘𝑡
𝑄(𝑡) = 200𝑒 −(0.10)(3)
𝑸(𝟑) = 𝟏𝟒𝟖. 𝟏𝟔𝟑 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒎𝒔
14. Radium decomposes in air at the rate proportional to the amount present. It is found
out that in 25 years, 1.1% of a certain amount decomposed. (a) For one-half of the
original amount to decompose, (b) Determine approximately how long will it take for
20% of the amount to decompose and (c) what percent of the amount will
decompose in 50 years? Assume that the mass of radium is 100g.
Solution:
Let Q = mass of the radium
𝑄(𝑡) = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘𝑡
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 0
𝑄 = 𝑄𝑜 𝑒 𝑘 (0)
𝑄 = 𝑄𝑜
A.
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑡 = 25 𝑄 = 100𝑔 − 1.1𝑔 = 98.9𝑔
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