A bottle of vintage red wine has lost its label. The concentration of tritium ()
ID: 816781 • Letter: A
Question
A bottle of vintage red wine has lost its label. The concentration of tritium () in the wine is 0.34 times that found in freshly bottled wines. If the half-life of tritium is 12.3 years, estimate the time elapsed since the wine was bottled.
A bottle of vintage red wine has lost its label. The concentration of tritium () in the wine is 0.34 times that found in freshly bottled wines. If the half-life of tritium is 12.3 years, estimate the time elapsed since the wine was bottled.
A bottle of vintage red wine has lost its label. The concentration of tritium () in the wine is 0.34 times that found in freshly bottled wines. If the half-life of tritium is 12.3 years, estimate the time elapsed since the wine was bottled.Explanation / Answer
It is not as simple as that; you need to use
the half-life equation:
A(t) = A(o)(1/2)^t/h
Where .... A(t) = amount present, A(o) = initial amount, t = elapsed time, h = half-life
A(t)/A(o) = 0.34 = (0.5)^t/12.3 y
ln's both sides ln0.34 = ln0.5
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