Fundamental Principles: Radioactive Decay, Planetary Motion, and Material Properties
Classified in Geology
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Radioactive Decay: Principles and Equations
If the decay rate is equal to λ, the probability that a given nucleus will decay in a small time interval dt is λdt. Therefore, if at any time we have P parent nuclei, the number that decay in the next moment is P(λdt).
The rate of change of parent nuclei (dP/dt) is proportional to the number of parent nuclei present:
dP/dt = -λP
This differential equation can be solved as follows:
- Separate variables: dP/P = -λdt
- Integrate both sides: ∫(dP/P) = -λ∫dt
- Resulting in: ln(P) = -λt + C
The boundary condition is found because we know that when t = 0, P = P0 (the initial number of parent nuclei). Therefore, C = ln(P0), and we can write the equation as:
ln(P) = ln(P0) - λt
Rearranging this equation:
- ln(P)