The following are radioactive isotopes that were released during the Chernobyl a

Question

The following are radioactive isotopes that were released during the Chernobyl accident: Cesium-137, Iodine-131, Plutonium-239, Strontium-90, and Xenon-133. Research the five radioactive isotopes including the amount that was released during Chernobyl and the specific activity (the specific activity of a radioactive isotope is a measure of its radioactivity in becquerels per gram [Bq/g]). Make a table of the information you found. Express your numbers in scientific notation.

Research the half-life of each radioactive isotope. Using the information that you find and your knowledge of exponential functions, determine what amount of each isotope remains today. What is the time it took (or will take) for only 1% of the original amount to remain?

Show all of your mathematical equations and calculations in a report you will create explaining what this all means to the people and environment affected by the Chernobyl disaster from the day it happened and for generations to come. This report will be submitted to the Ukrainian government for approval of your research utilizing mathematical and scientific concepts. This report will form the basis of your marketing products related to your tour and it's preparation. This information will also be shared during the tour in a manner the tourists can understand..

Explanation / Answer

About the chernobyl accident, there are plenty of web pages, that tells you the info you need. Look for them and then, read and use the information you need.

As for the amounts released, these are the amounts released during the accident:

133Xe 100%,131I 50-60%,134Cs 20-40%,137Cs 20-40%,132Te 25-60%,89Sr 4-6%,90Sr 4-6%,140Ba 4-6%,95Zr 3,5%,99Mo >3,5%,103Ru >3,5%,106Ru >3,5%,141Ce 3,5%,144Ce 3,5%,239Np 3,5%,238Pu 3,5%,239Pu 3,5%,240Pu 3,5%,241Pu 3,5%,242Cm 3,5%

Of course, these are all the isotopes, not just the isotopes of this problem.

AS for the half life, you can also find that on the internet, however, let me guide you and tell you how you'll do to determine the amount of each isotope as today.

The expression you need to use is the following:
C = Co exp(-kt)

C: Concentration of today
Co = innitial concentration
k = constant of time
t = time to get the actual concentration

To get the constant k you need the half life of the isotope:
k = ln2/t1/2

For example for 137Cs the half life is 30.17 y, so, he actual concentration is: (You should know that the chernobyl accident occurs in the year 1986, so we can assume that 30 years have passed since them)

k = ln2/30.17 = 0.02297 y-1

Now the concentration, assuming an innitial or average concentration of Cs of 30% (cause it was released between the 20 and 40%)

C = 30 * exp(-0.02297*30)
C = 15.06%

The time for the 1% of the original amount to take it will be:
C = 0.01Co then

0.01Co = Co exp(-0.02297t)
0.01 = exp(-0.02297t)
ln(1/0.01) = 0.02297t
t = ln(1/0.01) / 0.02297
t = 200.49 y

Do this with all the isotopes, to get Concentration and time and then add that to your report. Hope this helps

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.