Provide an appropriate response.
-A toxic radioactive substance with a density of 3 milligrams per square centimeter is detected in the ventilating ducts of a nuclear processing building that was used 34 years ago. If the half-life of the
Substance is 10 years, what was the density of the substance when it was deposited 34 years ago?
A)3.68 mg/cm2
B)0.28 mg/cm2
C)79.17 mg/cm2
D)31.67 mg/cm2

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The density of the substance when it was deposited can be calculated using the formula for exponential decay, considering the half-life of the substance. Given the current density (3 mg/cm^2) and the half-life (10 years), we can calculate the original density 34 years ago. Since the substance has gone through approximately 3.4 half-lives (34 years / 10 years per half-life), the original density would be $3 mg/cm^2 \times 2^{3.4}$ (because it halves every 10 years), which equals approximately 31.67 mg/cm^2.

Provide an Appropriate Response