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Which sample contains greater number of nuclei : a $5.00- \mu Ci$ sample of $_{240}Pu$ (half-life $6560\,y$) or a $4.45 - \mu Ci$ sample of $_{243}Am$ (half-life $7370\, y$)
$_{240}Pu$
$_{243}Am$
Equal in both
None of these
Solution
(c) The activity $\left( { – \frac{{dN}}{{dt}}} \right) = \lambda N$ ==> $N = \left( { – \frac{{dN}}{{dt}}} \right)\,\left( {\frac{{{T_{1/2}}}}{{{{\log }_e}2}}} \right)$
Taking the ratio of this expression for $^{240}Pu$ to this same expression for $^{243}Am,$
$\frac{{{N_{Pu}}}}{{{N_{Am}}}} = \frac{{\left( { – \frac{{d{N_{Pu}}}}{{dt}}} \right)\,{{({T_{1/2}})}_{Pu}}}}{{\left( { – \frac{{d{N_{Am}}}}{{dt}}} \right)\,{{({T_{1/2}})}_{Am}}}} = \frac{{(5\mu ci) \times (6560y)}}{{(4.45\mu ci) \times (7370y)}} = 1$
i.e. the two samples contains equal number of nuclei.