Ask your own question, for FREE!
Mathematics 15 Online
OpenStudy (anonymous):

ODE Decay Question : In the rock being examined there is 100 mg of uranium and 14 mg of lead. Uranium decays with a half-life of 4.5 *10^9 years and after full decay of 238g of uranium 206 g of lead is left. Determine the rock age. Assume that when the rock formed it contained no lead, and neglect all intermediate decay-chain elements( since their half-life is much smaller than uranium )

OpenStudy (anonymous):

So I think I found the decay equation U(t)= quantity of Uranium \[U(t)=U_{0}e^{\frac{\ln\frac{119}{238}}{4.5∗10^9}t}\] is this somewhat right? I then put 0.01 and t=4.5*10^9 to find the original amount of Uranium but I can't seem to get it right.

OpenStudy (anonymous):

so I got a slightly better equation \[U_{t}=U_{0}\exp(\frac{\ln(1/2)}{4.5*10^9}t) \]

Can't find your answer? Make a FREE account and ask your own questions, OR help others and earn volunteer hours!

Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!
Can't find your answer? Make a FREE account and ask your own questions, OR help others and earn volunteer hours!

Join our real-time social learning platform and learn together with your friends!