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A radioactive sample consists of two distinct species having equal number of atoms initially. The mean life time of one species is $\tau$ and that of the other is $5 \tau$. The decay products in both cases are stable. A plot is made of the total number of radioactive nuclei as a function of time. Which of the following figures best represents the form of this plot




Solution
(d) The total number of atoms neither remains constant (as in option $(a) $ nor can ever increase (as in option $(b)$ and $(c)$).
They will continuously decrease with time. Therefore option $(d)$ is correct.
Similar Questions
The activity $R$ of an unknown radioactive nuclide is measured at hourly intervals. The results found are tabulated as follows:
$t(h)$ | $0$ | $1$ | $2$ | $3$ | $4$ |
$R(MBq)$ | $100$ | $35.36$ | $12.51$ | $4.42$ | $1.56$ |
$(i)$ Plot the graph of $R$ versus $t$ and calculate half-life from the graph.
$(ii)$ Plot the graph of $\ln \left( {\frac{R}{{{R_0}}}} \right) \to t$ versus $t$ and obtain the value of half-life from the graph.