Try it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
Strontium-90 has a half-life of years. Find its decay constant in , its mean life in years, and the percentage that is left after years. Use s.
The number of nuclei falls as . The half-life is , and the mean life is . For two ways to decay, . The activity is , in becquerel.
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The half-life in seconds. s.
Step 2. The decay constant. We want , so .
Step 3. The mean life. y.
Step 4. After years. , so is left.
Answer: , years and .
Check. years is a little more than half-lives, and . The answer is a little smaller. It fits.
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