Tungsten-176 has a half-life of 2.5 hours.After how many hours will the disintegration rate of a tungsten-176 sample drop to 1/10 its initial value?
Dear Student ,
After 3 half-lives, the activity will drop to (1/2)3 = 1/8 its initial value, and after 4 half-lives, it will drop to (1/2)4 = 1/16 its initial value. Since 1/10 is between 1/8 and 1/16, the time interval in this case is between 3 and 4 half-lives, that is, between 3(2.5 h) = 7.5 h and 4(2.5 h) = 10 h.
Regards
After 3 half-lives, the activity will drop to (1/2)3 = 1/8 its initial value, and after 4 half-lives, it will drop to (1/2)4 = 1/16 its initial value. Since 1/10 is between 1/8 and 1/16, the time interval in this case is between 3 and 4 half-lives, that is, between 3(2.5 h) = 7.5 h and 4(2.5 h) = 10 h.
Regards