if a radioactive isotope had a half life of 1 billion years how much of it would be left after 1 billion , 2 billion, 3 billion, and 4 billion years
Biology · High School · Tue Nov 03 2020
Answered on
Given:
A radioactive isotope with a half life of 1 billion years.
Determine how much of the radioactive isotope will be left after
1 billion years
2 billion years
3 billion years
4 billion years
Explanation:
Let x/2 = half life of a radioactive isotope in 1 billion years.
In 2 billion years the amount of the radioactive isotope will be ½ the current value, if the current amount in 1 billion years is x/2 then in 2 billion years the amount will be x/4. For 3 billion years, the amount will be half of x/4, which is x/8.After 4 billion years the amount will be half x/8 which is x/16.
Final answer:
Time = Amount
1 billion years = x/2
2 billion years = x/4
3 billion years= x/8
4 billion years= x/16