If the half-life of a radioactive material is 5 years, then what percentage of it remains after 25 years?
3.125
1.25
25
6.25
Solution:
Half-life of material = 5 years = ln2/k, where k is the decay constant. Amount of material after time t = N(t) = N₀e⁻ᵏᵗ => N/N₀ = e⁻⁵ln2 = e⁻ln2⁵ = 0.03125 = 3.125%