Math Problem Statement
Solution
It seems you've uploaded an image with a question on radioactive decay involving a decay function. Let me extract and break down the problem for you.
The problem involves:
- A radioactive decay equation for Plutonium, , where , is in seconds, is the initial radioactivity, and represents the radioactivity at time .
- You are asked to: a) Find the inverse of this function and explain its meaning. b) Calculate the time for Plutonium with an initial radioactivity of to decay to 5% of its initial radioactivity.
Let's solve each part step by step:
Part (a): Finding the inverse of
We need to solve for in terms of and .
Given: To find the inverse, solve for :
- Divide both sides by :
- Take the natural logarithm (ln) of both sides to remove the exponential:
- Solve for :
Thus, the inverse function is:
Meaning: The inverse function tells you the time it takes for the radioactivity to decay to a specified level , given the initial radioactivity and the decay constant .
Part (b): Time for Plutonium to decay to 5% of its initial radioactivity
Here, you're given that and need to find the time when . This means: Using the inverse function from part (a): Substitute , , and :
Now, let's calculate that value.
I'll perform this calculation.The time it takes for Plutonium to decay to 5% of its initial radioactivity is approximately seconds, or about 103.4 years.
Would you like any further details or clarification on these calculations?
Here are five related questions you can explore:
- What is the half-life of Plutonium based on the given decay constant?
- How does the decay constant affect the rate of decay?
- What are the units of and how do they impact the equation?
- What is the radioactivity after 50 years for this Plutonium sample?
- Can this model be applied to other radioactive elements? How would their decay constants change?
Tip: Always check the units of each variable to ensure the results are consistent, especially in exponential decay problems.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Exponential Decay
Inverse Functions
Formulas
p(t) = p₀e^{-γt}
Inverse: t = -ln(p(t) / p₀) / γ
Theorems
Exponential Decay Theorem
Logarithmic Properties
Suitable Grade Level
College level (Mathematics/Physics)
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