# Help with setting up a problem

• November 8th 2006, 10:31 AM
dibs
Help with setting up a problem
Hi, I need some help setting up this problem properly

Problem:
After 23 days a 10-milligram sample of radioactive material decays to 5 milligrams. After how many days will there be 1 milligram of the material?

thanks!
• November 8th 2006, 10:50 AM
topsquark
Quote:

Originally Posted by dibs
Hi, I need some help setting up this problem properly

Problem:
After 23 days a 10-milligram sample of radioactive material decays to 5 milligrams. After how many days will there be 1 milligram of the material?

thanks!

$m(t) = m_0 e^{- \lambda t}$ where m(t) is the mass of the material at a given time t, $m_0$ is the initial amount of mass m(0), $\lambda$ is the half-life, and t is the time elapsed.

So we know that
$5 = 10 e^{- \lambda \cdot 23}$

We need to solve this for $\lambda$.

$\frac{1}{2} = e^{-23 \lambda}$

$ln (1/2) = -23 \lambda$

$\lambda = -\frac{ln(1/2)}{23} = \frac{ln(2)}{23} \approx 0.030136834$ /day

So
$m(t) = 10 e^{-0.030136834 t}$

We wish to find out when m(t) = 1 mg.

$1 = 10 e^{-0.030136834 t}$

Solve this like the preceding problem. I get $t \approx 76.404346182$ days.

So 76.4 days or so.

-Dan
• November 8th 2006, 12:00 PM
dibs
thank you very much for the help!