Question

Tritium (hydrogen-3) has a half-life of 12.3 years. How old is a bottle of wine if the tritium content is determined to be 25% in new bottle of wine

Answer 1

Answer:

24.6 years

Explanation:

Applying,

A = (A')$2^{a/n}$..................... Equation 1

Where A = Original Tritium content in the wine, A' = Tritium content in the wine after decay, a = age of the old bottle, n = half life of Tritium

From the question,

Let A = X, therefore, A' = 0.25X

Given: n = 12.3 years

Substitute these values into equation 1

X = 0.25X($2^{a/n}$)

1 = 0.25×($2^{a/12.3}$)

1/0.25 =

4 = $2^{a/12.3}$

$2^{a/12.3}$ = 2²

Equation the base,

a/12.3 = 2

a = 12.3×2

a = 24.6 years