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NEET PHYSICSNUCLEIMedium

Question

The half-life of a radioactive nucleus is 50 days. The time interval (t2t1)(t_2 - t_1) between the time t2t_2 when 23\frac{2}{3} of it has decayed and the time t1t_1 when 13\frac{1}{3} of it had decayed is:

A

30 days

B

50 days

C

60 days

D

15 days

Step-by-Step Solution

  1. Analyze Remaining Amounts: Radioactive decay calculations use the amount of substance remaining (undecayed), not the amount decayed.
  • At time t1t_1: Fraction decayed = 1/31/3. Fraction remaining N1=11/3=2/3N_1 = 1 - 1/3 = 2/3.
  • At time t2t_2: Fraction decayed = 2/32/3. Fraction remaining N2=12/3=1/3N_2 = 1 - 2/3 = 1/3.
  1. Compare the States: Observe the relationship between the remaining amounts at t1t_1 and t2t_2. N2N1=1/32/3=12\frac{N_2}{N_1} = \frac{1/3}{2/3} = \frac{1}{2}
  • This shows that the amount of substance at t2t_2 is exactly half of the amount at t1t_1.
  1. Apply Half-Life Definition: The time required for a radioactive substance to reduce to half of its initial value is defined as one half-life (T1/2T_{1/2}) .
  • Therefore, the time interval Δt=t2t1\Delta t = t_2 - t_1 is exactly equal to one half-life.
  • Given T1/2=50T_{1/2} = 50 days.
  • Δt=50\Delta t = 50 days.

Exam Context & Concepts Covered

This question aligns with the NEET PHYSICS syllabus, specifically targeting concepts from NUCLEI. Mastering this topic is crucial for scoring well in the upcoming medical entrance examinations. Solving conceptually related problems will help you understand the nuances of these concepts and improve your problem-solving speed.

PHYSICSNUCLEIhalfliferadioactivenucleusintervalbetween

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