Question

The activity of a radioisotope is found to decrease 40% of its original value in 2.59 x 10 s.

Answer 1

Answer: $0.0353\ s^{-1}$

Explanation:

Given

Radioactive material is found to decrease 40% of its original value in $2.59\times 10\ s$

Sample at any time is given by

$N=N_oe^{-\lambda t}$

where, $\lambda=\text{decay constant}$

Put values

$\Rightarrow 0.4N_o=N_oe^{-\lambda\cdot 2.59\times 10}\\\Rightarrow 0.4=e^{-\lambda\cdot 2.59\times 10$

Taking natural logarithm both side

$\Rightarrow \lambda=\dfrac{\ln 2.5}{25.9}\\\\\Rightarrow \lambda =0.0353\ s^{-1}$