Question

Use the exponential decay​ model, Upper A equals Upper A 0 e Superscript kt​, to solve the following. The​ half-life of a certain substance is 19 years. How long will it take for a sample of this substance to decay to 78​% of its original​ amount? It will take approximately nothing years for the sample of the substance to decay to 78​% of its original amount.

Answer 1

Answer:

It will take 7 years ( approx )

Step-by-step explanation:

Given equation that shows the amount of the substance after t years,

$A=A_0 e^{kt}$

Where,

$A_0$ = Initial amount of the substance,

If the half life of the substance is 19 years,

Then if t = 19, amount of the substance = $\frac{A_0}{2}$,

i.e.

$\frac{A_0}{2}=A_0 e^{19k}$

$\frac{1}{2} = e^{19k}$

$0.5 = e^{19k}$

Taking ln both sides,

$\ln(0.5) = \ln(e^{19k})$

$\ln(0.5) = 19k$

$\implies k = \frac{\ln(0.5)}{19}\approx -0.03648$

Now, if the substance to decay to 78​% of its original​ amount,

Then $A=78\% \text{ of }A_0 =\frac{78A_0}{100}=0.78 A_0$

$0.78 A_0=A_0 e^{-0.03648t}$

$0.78 = e^{-0.03648t}$

Again taking ln both sides,

$\ln(0.78) = -0.03648t$

$-0.24846=-0.03648t$

$\implies t = \frac{0.24846}{0.03648}=6.81085\approx 7$

Hence, approximately the substance would be 78% of its initial value after 7 years.