Nuclei Ques 89

89. The activity of a radioactive sample is measured as 9750 counts per minute at $t=0$ and as 975 counts per minute at $t=5$ minutes. The decay constant is approximately

[1997]

(a) 0.922 per minute

(b) 0.691 per minute

(c) 0.461 per minute

(d) 0.230 per minute

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Answer:

Correct Answer: 89.(c)

Solution:

(c) $\frac{d N}{d t}=K N$
$9750=K N_0$ …….(1)
$975=K N$ ………(2)

Dividing (1) by (2)

$\frac{N}{N_0}=\frac{1}{10}$

$K=\frac{2.303}{t} \log \frac{N_0}{N}=\frac{2.303}{5} \log 10$

$=0.4606=0.461$ per minute