1.

The isotope `._6^(14)C` is radioactive and has a half-life of 5730 years . If you starts with a sample of `1000` carbon `-14` niclei, how many will still be around in `17,190 years`?

Answer» In `5730 years` half the sample will have decayed, leaving 500 radioactive `._(6)^(14)C` nuclei . In another `5730 year`s (for a total elapsed time of `11460 years`), the number will be reduced to `250` nuclei reamin. These numbers represent ideal circumstances. Radioactive decay is an averging process over a very large number of atoms, and the actual outcome depends on statistic. Our original sample in this example contained only `1000` nuclei, certainly not a very large number, Thus, if we were actullaly to count the number remaining after one half -life for this small sample, it probably would not be exactly `500`.


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