answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

The following formula can be used to calculate half-life (t1/2):

t1/2 = (t ln 1/2)/(ln mf / mi)

t = time that has passed

mf = the final or remaining mass of undecayed sample

mi = the initial or original mass of undecayed sample

(The fraction mf / mi is of course equivalent to the fraction of undecayed sample remaining, in case you are given the fraction remaining rather than specific masses.)

Note: You can also use base-10 logarithms instead of natural logarithms.

The half-lives of radioactive isotopes vary between a tiny fraction of a second, and more than 1015 years.

(see related link to a list of half-lifes)

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar
More answers
User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

AT = A0 2 (-T/H)

where AT is the final amount after a time T,

A0 is the initial amount at T=0,

and H is the half-life.

There are other ways to express this, one being ...

AT = A0 0.5 (T/H)

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

3.142957302675736572354326489328957389656576756 x mass of isotope.

then divide it by the radioactive level of the variable.

when you get this answer, this tells you the amount of minutes until it decays.

so it looks like this: 3.142957302675736572354326489328957389656576756M

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

dA = -kA

dt

•A = A0e-kt

•When does A = 0.5 * A0 ?

•0.5 = e-k*thalf-life

•0.693 / k = t1/2

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

AnswerBot

7mo ago

The formula to calculate the half-life of a radioactive isotope is:

t1/2 = (ln 2) / λ

Where t1/2 is the half-life, ln 2 is the natural logarithm of 2, and λ is the decay constant of the isotope.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

y=ae-bt

t= time

a= initial amount

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

t1/2= 0.693/lambda

where t1/2= half-life period

lambda= radioactive decay constant

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago

Half life for radioactive decay (1st order rxn) = 0.693/k where k is the rate constant for the reaction

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

AT = A0 2(-T/H)

Where A0 is starting activity, AT is activity at some time T, and H is half-life in units of T.

This answer is:
User Avatar

User Avatar

Wiki User

9y ago

Yes it is an exponential. However it has a constant in it that must be determined empirically for each isotope and type of decay it undergoes.

This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What is the formula to calculate the half-life of a radioactive isotope?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Continue Learning about Physics

Isotope A has half-life of seconds and isotope B has a half-life of millions of years which isotope is more radioactive?

Isotope A is more radioactive because it has a shorter half-life, indicating a faster rate of decay. A shorter half-life means that more of the isotope will undergo radioactive decay in a given time period compared to an isotope with a longer half-life.


How long will it take half of a radioactive sample to decay?

The time it takes for half of a radioactive sample to decay is known as the half-life. Each radioactive element has a unique half-life, which could range from fractions of a second to billions of years. The half-life remains constant regardless of the size of the initial sample.


The time it takes for 50 percent of the nuclei in a radioactive sample to decay to its stable isotope is called?

The time it takes for 50 percent of the nuclei in a radioactive sample to decay to its stable isotope is called the half-life of the radioactive element. It is a characteristic property of each radioactive isotope and can vary greatly among different elements.


What is the term for the element that a radioactive isotope decay into?

The term for the element that a radioactive isotope decays into is called the "daughter product". During radioactive decay, the original isotope transforms into a different element or isotope through a series of decay reactions.


What does it mean if an element it radioactive?

If an element is radioactive, it means that its nucleus is unstable and emits radiation in the form of particles or electromagnetic waves in order to become more stable. This process is called radioactive decay.

Related questions

Is it true that the half-life of a radioactive isotope decreases as the isotopes decay?

no, halflife is a constant for each isotope's decay process.


Is any isotope of lead is radioactive?

many. one example is lead-214 with a halflife of 26.8 minutes.


What is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down to form daughter isotopes called?

halflife


How do scientists use the halflife of radioactive isotopes to date rocks and fossils?

The basic idea is to compare the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within a material to the abundance of its decay products; it is known how fast the radioactive isotope decays.


How do you compute a halflife?

There is no simple formula to determine the half life of every single radioactive isotope. However, y = A(.5)^t/h, where A=staring amount, t=time, and h= half life, is a general equation that usually works well.


How do you calculate the activity of a radioactive sample?

The activity of a radioactive sample is calculated using the formula: Activity = λ*N, where λ is the decay constant of the isotope and N is the number of radioactive nuclei present in the sample. The unit of activity is becquerel (Bq).


When an isotope is blank it is radioactive?

When an isotope is unstable, it is said to be radioactive.


All radioactive nuclides of an element have the same half life?

No, halflife is a bulk statistical property of a quantity of an isotope of an element.Individual nuclei do not have halflives, instead they have a probability of decaying at the current moment of time.


What is the stable isotope that is formed by the breakdown of a radioactive isotope?

The stable isotope formed by the breakdown of a radioactive isotope is called a daughter isotope. This process is known as radioactive decay, where a radioactive isotope transforms into a stable daughter isotope through the emission of particles or energy.


Is lithium 8 an isotope why?

Yes, but it has a halflife of only 0.86 seconds.


What is the relationship between radioactive isotope and radioactive dating?

In radiometric dating, the amount of a certain radioactive isotope in an object is compared with a reference amount. This ratio can then be used to calculate how long this isotope has been decaying in the object since its formation. For example, if you find that the amount of radioactive isotope left is one half of the reference amount, then the amount of time since the formation of the object would be equal to that radioactive isotope's half-life.


How is radioactive Isotope different from a stable isotope?

The radioactive isotope is disintegrated in time and emit radiations.