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How do you find radioactive decay half life?

Answer 1

Naomi Aronson

Use the radioactive decay half-life formula.

According to the radioactive decay half-life formula,

#N(t)=N_0(1/2)^(t/t_(1/2))#

where

#N(t)# is the final amount of substance

#N_0# is the initial amount of a substance

#t# is the time (usually in years or seconds)

#t_(1/2)# is the half-life of the substance

To solve for half-life of a substance, rearrange the formula in terms of #t_(1/2)#.

#N(t)=N_0(1/2)^(t/t_(1/2))# #(N(t))/N_0=(1/2)^(t/t_(1/2))# #log_(1/2)[(N(t))/N_0]=t/t_(1/2)#

#:.t_(1/2)=t/log_(1/2)[(N(t))/N_0]#

The following link is the source: Calculate Half-Life

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Answer 2

Naomi Aronson

To find the radioactive decay half-life, you can use the formula:

[ t_{1/2} = \frac{{\ln(2)}}{{\lambda}} ]

Where:

( t_{1/2} ) is the half-life,
( \lambda ) is the decay constant.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.