A Geiger counter initially records 9876 counts per second.After 45 minutes it records 1234 counts/s.Ignore any uncertainty in the counts and find the half-life of the material.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The half-life can be calculated using the formula $N = N_0 \times (1/2)^{t/T}$, where $N$ is the final activity, $N_0$ is the initial activity, $t$ is the time elapsed, and $T$ is the half-life. Rearranging for $T$, and substituting $N = 1234$, $N_0 = 9876$, and $t = 45$ minutes (or 2700 seconds), we can solve for $T$. The calculation shows that the half-life is approximately 900 seconds.

A Geiger Counter Initially Records 9876 Counts Per Second