99.6k views
1 vote
If the half-life of an unstable isotope is 10,000 years, and only 1/8 of the radioactive parent remains in a sample, how old is the sample?

User Jwillker
by
8.1k points

2 Answers

3 votes

Answer: 30,000

Explanation: I'm taking gradpoint

User Rafa Romero
by
8.5k points
6 votes
Have in mind that a radioactive half-life is the amount of time it takes for half of a sample to decay. So, if the amount remaining after x half-lives is (1/2)↑x times the amount you started with. So for 1/18 of radioactive parent then (1/2)↑6 equals 30,000 years
User Neilprosser
by
8.3k points

No related questions found