Problem 30.63 Tritium dating. The H isotope of hydrogen, which is called tritium

Question

Problem 30.63 Tritium dating. The H isotope of hydrogen, which is called tritium (because it contains three nucleons), has a half-life of 12.3 yr. lt can be used to measure the age of objects up to about 100 yr. It is produced in the upper atmosphere by cosmic rays and brought to Earth by rain. Part A As an application, determine approximately the age of a bottle of wine whose H radiation is about 0.45 that present in new wine years Submit My Answers Give Up Incorrect, Try Again; 4 attempts remaining

Explanation / Answer

Because the tritium in water is being replenished, we assume that the amount is constant until the wine is made, and then it decays. We find the number of half-lives from  

                                   N/No = (1/2)n

                                 0.45 = (1/2)n

                           or nlog2 = log(45)          which gives n = 5.49

thus time is         t = nT1/2 = (5.49)(12.33) = 67.71 yr

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