The beta decay of 40K that is a natural part of the body makes all human beings slightly radioactive. An adult weighing 70.0 kg contains about 170 g of potassium. The relative natural abundance of 40K is 0.0118%, its half-life is 1.28 × 109 years, and its beta particles have an average kinetic energy of 0.55 MeV.(a) Calculate the total activity of 40K in this person.(b) Determine (in Gy per year) the annual radiation absorbed dose arising from this internal 40K.

Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
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Chapter30: Nuclear Physics
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Problem 18P
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The beta decay of 40K that is a natural part of the body makes all human beings slightly radioactive. An adult weighing 70.0 kg contains about 170 g of potassium. The relative natural abundance of 40K is 0.0118%, its half-life is 1.28 × 109 years, and its beta particles have an average kinetic energy of 0.55 MeV.
(a) Calculate the total activity of 40K in this person.
(b) Determine (in Gy per year) the annual radiation absorbed dose arising from this internal 40K.

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