In: Physics
Nuclear disintegration and carbon dating. a) The rate of decay of a radioactive nuclide is proportional to the number of nuclei N present at time t, where the proportionality constant is given by the decay constant λ: dN dt = −λN Derive an expression for the number of nuclei as a function of time N, using N0 as the number of nuclei that are present initially (at t = 0). b) Derive the relationship between the half-life T1/2 and the decay constant λ. c) A piece of wood from an ancient sunken ship has a specific activity of 100 Bq/kg due to 14C. A sample of comparable living wood has an activity of 270 Bq/kg. Using the carbon dating method, determine the age of the ancient piece of wood, given that the half-life of 14C is 5730 years.