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Elementary Applications: I. Growth and Decay
Elementary Applications: I. Growth and Decay
MODULE 3
ELEMENTARY APPLICATIONS
Illustrative Examples:
1. Radium decomposes at a rate proportional to the quantity
of radium present. Suppose that it is found that in 25
years approximately 1.1% of a certain quantity of radium
has decomposed. Determine approximately how long it
will take for one-half the original amount of radium to
decompose.
Solution:
Let x – the quantity of radium present at any time
t – time in years
dx
dt – the rate of decomposition of radium
From the Law of Radioactive Decay,
dx
∝x
dt
dx
¿ kx
dt
The equation is variable separable.
dx
¿ kdt
x
Integrating,
ln x=kt+ ln c
x=x 0 e kt
k 25
0.989 = ( e )
e k =( 0.989 )1/25
When x=0.5 x o
ln 0.5=ln ( 0.989 )t / 25
t
ln 0.5= ln 0.989
25
25 ln 0.5
t=¿
ln 0.989 1567 yr Ans.
¿
2/4 ¿ ( e k )1620
k 1/1620
e =( 0.5 )
x=4 ( 0.5 )t / 1620
x=x 0 e kt
k (2)
3x = x e
0 0
k 2
3 = (e )
e k =( 3 )1 /2
x=x 0 (3 )t /2
When x=100 x o
100 x =x o 0 ( 3 )t /2
100¿ ( 3 ) t/2
ln 100=ln ( 3 )t /2
t
ln 100= ln 3
2
2 ln 100
t=¿ 8.38 hr or 8 hr 23 min
¿
ln 3
Actual time – 8:23 P.M. Ans.