•61 The isotope 238SU decays to 206 Pb with a half-life of 4.47 x 10° y. Although the decay occurs in many individual steps, the first step has by far the longest half-life; therefore, one can often consider the decay to go directly to lead. That is, 238U → 206Pb + various decay products. A rock is found to contain 4.20 mg of 23$U and 2.135 mg of 206PB. Assume that the rock contained no lead at formation, so all the lead now present arose from the decay of uranium. How many atoms of (a) 238U and (b) 206Pb does the rock now contain? (c) How many atoms of 238U did the rock contain at formation? (d) What is the age of the rock?

College Physics
10th Edition
ISBN:9781285737027
Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Chapter29: Nuclear Physics
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 55AP
icon
Related questions
Question
•61 The isotope 238SU decays to 206 Pb with a half-life of 4.47 x 10°
y. Although the decay occurs in many individual steps, the first step
has by far the longest half-life; therefore, one can often consider
the decay to go directly to lead. That is,
238U → 206Pb + various decay products.
A rock is found to contain 4.20 mg of 23$U and 2.135 mg of 206PB.
Assume that the rock contained no lead at formation, so all the
lead now present arose from the decay of uranium. How many
atoms of (a) 238U and (b) 206Pb does the rock now contain? (c) How
many atoms of 238U did the rock contain at formation? (d) What is
the age of the rock?
Transcribed Image Text:•61 The isotope 238SU decays to 206 Pb with a half-life of 4.47 x 10° y. Although the decay occurs in many individual steps, the first step has by far the longest half-life; therefore, one can often consider the decay to go directly to lead. That is, 238U → 206Pb + various decay products. A rock is found to contain 4.20 mg of 23$U and 2.135 mg of 206PB. Assume that the rock contained no lead at formation, so all the lead now present arose from the decay of uranium. How many atoms of (a) 238U and (b) 206Pb does the rock now contain? (c) How many atoms of 238U did the rock contain at formation? (d) What is the age of the rock?
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 5 steps with 5 images

Blurred answer
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
College Physics
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781285737027
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
Physics
ISBN:
9781133104261
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
College Physics
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781938168000
Author:
Paul Peter Urone, Roger Hinrichs
Publisher:
OpenStax College
University Physics Volume 3
University Physics Volume 3
Physics
ISBN:
9781938168185
Author:
William Moebs, Jeff Sanny
Publisher:
OpenStax
College Physics
College Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781305952300
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Modern Physics
Modern Physics
Physics
ISBN:
9781111794378
Author:
Raymond A. Serway, Clement J. Moses, Curt A. Moyer
Publisher:
Cengage Learning