Question

the life of plutonium-239 is 24,300 years. if a nuclear bomb released 8kg of this isotope, how many years would pass before the amount is reduced to 1 kg.

Answer 1

97200yrs,

Step-by-step explanation:

Given parameters:

Half-life of Plutonium - 239 = 24300yrs

Mass of the isotope = 8kg

Unknown:

Number of years it will take for the amount to reduce to 1kg = ?

Solution:

The half -life of any substance is the time taken for half of the compound to decay to half its original composition.

Start first half life second half life third half life

mass 8kg 4kg 2kg 1kg

Time 0yrs 24300 48600 97200

By 97200yrs, the mass would have been 1kg