Answer:
To find the decay constant (k) for cobalt-60, we can use the formula:
k = ln(2) / half-life
where ln represents the natural logarithm.
Given that the half-life of cobalt-60 is 13.75 minutes, we can substitute this value into the formula:
k = ln(2) / 13.75
To calculate the value of k, we divide the natural logarithm of 2 by 13.75:
k ≈ 0.0504 minutes⁻¹
So, the decay constant (k) for cobalt-60 is approximately 0.0504 minutes⁻¹.
The decay constant represents the probability of a radioactive nucleus decaying per unit time. In this case, it indicates the rate at which cobalt-60 nuclei decay.
Explanation: