Physics

Physics

Problem

(a) Write the mathematical relation that connects the time tt elapsed since a radioactive sample was pure, its half-life T1/2T_{1/2}, and the fraction N/N0N/N_0 of undecayed nuclei now present. (b) Using the relation obtained in part (a), explain why a sample appears to decay more slowly when it becomes old, even though the number of nuclei is still halving in equal successive intervals of time.

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