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(87)^(221) Ra is a radioactive substance...

`_(87)^(221) `Ra is a radioactive substance having half life of `4` days .Find the probability that a nucleus undergoes decay after two half lives

A

`1`

B

`(1)/(2)`

C

`(3)/(4)`

D

`(1)/(4)`

Text Solution

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The correct Answer is:
To solve the problem, we need to determine the probability that a nucleus of radium-221 undergoes decay after two half-lives. Let's break down the solution step by step. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Half-Life**: - The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay. For radium-221, the half-life is given as 4 days. 2. **Initial Number of Nuclei**: - Let’s denote the initial number of nuclei as \( N_0 \). 3. **After One Half-Life**: - After one half-life (4 days), the number of remaining nuclei will be: \[ N_1 = \frac{N_0}{2} \] 4. **After Two Half-Lives**: - After two half-lives (8 days), the number of remaining nuclei will be: \[ N_2 = \frac{N_1}{2} = \frac{N_0}{4} \] 5. **Calculating the Number of Decayed Nuclei**: - The number of nuclei that have decayed after two half-lives is: \[ N_{\text{decayed}} = N_0 - N_2 = N_0 - \frac{N_0}{4} = \frac{3N_0}{4} \] 6. **Calculating the Probability of Decay**: - The probability \( P \) that a nucleus has decayed after two half-lives is given by the ratio of the number of decayed nuclei to the initial number of nuclei: \[ P = \frac{N_{\text{decayed}}}{N_0} = \frac{\frac{3N_0}{4}}{N_0} = \frac{3}{4} \] 7. **Final Answer**: - Therefore, the probability that a nucleus undergoes decay after two half-lives is: \[ P = \frac{3}{4} \] ### Summary: The probability that a nucleus of radium-221 undergoes decay after two half-lives is \( \frac{3}{4} \).

To solve the problem, we need to determine the probability that a nucleus of radium-221 undergoes decay after two half-lives. Let's break down the solution step by step. ### Step-by-Step Solution: 1. **Understanding Half-Life**: - The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time required for half of the radioactive nuclei in a sample to decay. For radium-221, the half-life is given as 4 days. 2. **Initial Number of Nuclei**: ...
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