Modelling Decay 10-11

Question 1

How would you plot a straight line of the exponenial decay of N = N₀e^-¥t?

What features of the graph would tell you what?

Answer 1

Take logs.

ln(N) = -¥t + ln(N₀)

You will get a graph with a negative gradient. The gradient gives you the negative value of the decay consant ¥. Substituting this into the half life equation allows you to calculate the half life of the of the undecayed nuclei.

Question 2

How would you use an iterative method to solve the exact solution of a differential equation?

Answer 2

Answer on page 11