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Show that for radioactive decay N(t) = λNOe-λt, where symbols have their usual meaning.

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Question

Show that for radioactive decay N(t) = `"N"_"O" "e"^{-λ"t"}`, where symbols have their usual meaning.

Derivation
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Solution

If ‘N(t)’ is the number of parent nuclei present at any instant ‘t’, ‘dN’ is the number of nuclei disintegrated in the short interval of time ‘dt’, then,

dN ∝ −N(t) dt

dN = −λ N(t) dt 

where λ is known as decay constant or disintegration constant.

The negative sign indicates the disintegration of atoms.

Integrating both sides of the equation,

`int_{"N"_0}^{"N"("t")} "dN"/("N"("t")) = int_0^"t" -lambda  "dt"`

where N0 is a number of parent atoms at time t = 0.

∴ loge `("N"("t"))/"N"_0 = -lambda"t"`

∴ N(t) = N0 `"e"^{-lambda"t"}`

This is the required relation.

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Chapter 15: Structure of Atoms and Nuclei - Short Answer II

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