if a radioactive isotope has a half-life of one year, how much of the original sample will be left at the end of the second year?
To determine how much of the original sample will be left at the end of the second year, you need to understand the concept of half-life and perform a few calculations.
1. Initial Amount: Assume you have a certain amount, let's say X, of the radioactive isotope at the beginning.
2. Half-Life: A half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive material to decay. In this case, the half-life is one year, meaning at the end of each year, half of the remaining radioactive material decays.
3. Calculation: At the end of the first year, half of the original sample will decay, leaving you with X/2 remaining. At the end of the second year, another half of the remaining sample will decay, leaving you with (X/2)/2 or X/4.
Therefore, at the end of the second year, one-fourth (X/4) of the original sample will be left.
So, to summarize:
- After the first year: X/2 remaining
- After the second year: X/4 remaining