Radioactivity

The nuclei of some atoms can decay.

An example is the decay of K40 (potassium-40) to Ar40 (argon-40) or Ca40 (calcium 40).

Argon is interesting because it has very different chemistry from potassium. How often does the decay happen? So Here is a picture, in which represents either of the decay products, calcium or argon.

Here is a puzzle. K40 atoms are red. Ar40 and Ca40 atoms are blue. For the atoms shown, assuming that you started with just K atoms and no atoms have escaped, how many half lives have elapsed?

Answer: There are 20 total K and Ar and Ca atoms, and 5 K atoms are left. 5 is 1/4 of 20. To get to 1/4 takes 2 half lives.


ASTR 121 Home

Davison E. Soper, Institute of Theoretical Science, University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403 USA soper@bovine.uoregon.edu