Assignment: Determining Half-life Exploration Data Table

Trial Amount Decayed Amount Left

1

50 50

2

26 24

3

12 12

4

6 6

5

3 3

6

3 0

Graph

Using the data from the table, make a graph of the number of atoms remaining after each trial.

Questions

1. How many trials did it take for half of the Virtualium atoms to decay?

1 trial

2. Suppose each trial equals 1,000 years. What is the half-life of Virtualium?

1000 years

3. Suppose each trial equals 1,000 years. After half (50) of the Virtualium cubes were removed from the box, about how long did it take for half of the rest of the cubes to decay?

5000 years

4. Imagine you have a radioactive sample containing both Virtualium and decayed atoms of Virtualium. After analysis, you find it contains 10 atoms of Virtualium and 40 decayed atoms. How old is your sample? (Hint: You must use the half-life of Virtualium determined earlier in the activity.)

It is 8000 years old.