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Radioactivity

Problem 6.220

Find the decay constant and the mean lifetime of Co55\mathrm{Co}^{55} radionuclide if its activity is known to decrease 4.0%4.0 \% per hour. The decay product is nonradioactive.

Reveal Answer
λ=−(1/t)ln⁡(1−η)≈η/t=1.1⋅10−5 s−1,τ=1/λ=1years\lambda=-(1 / t) \ln (1-\eta) \approx \eta / t=1.1 \cdot 10^{-5} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}, \tau=1 / \lambda= 1 \text {years}
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