Question

One of the main contaminants of a nuclear accident, such as that at chernobyl, is strontium-90, which decays exponentially at a rate of approximately 2.5 % per year. (a) write the ratio of strontium-90 remaining, upper p , as a function of years, t , since the nuclear accident. [hint: 100 % of the contaminant remains at t equals 0, so your function should take on the value 1 at t equals 0.]

Answer 1

we can use formula

`P(t)=P_0e^(-kt)`

we are given

`P_0=1`

strontium-90, which decays exponentially at a rate of approximately 2.5 % per year

so,

`k=0.025`

now, we can plug these values

and we get

`P(t)=1e^(-0.025t)`..........Answer