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Module 5 Lab – GEOG 1200 – Dr. Adams

Half-Life

A half-life is the amount of time required for one-half (50%) of a radioactive element to decay (change
to another) element. We can calculate the amount of a radioactive element that will be left if we know
its half-life.

Example: The half-life of the isotope Po-214 is 0.001 seconds. How much of a 20 g sample will be
left after 0.004 seconds? (Po = Polonium)

Answer: First, calculate the number half-lives.

Total Time = One Half-Life = # Half-Lives

Half-Life Time
0.004 sec x 1 Half-Life = 4 Half-Lives
0.001 sec

Amount of Po-214 left, take original amount and x by the given number of half-lives
calculated:

20 g x ½ x ½ x ½ x ½ = 1.25 g

After 0.004 sec you will have 1.25 g of Po-224 left.

Example: If you have 100 grams of a radioactive isotope with a half-life of 10 years.

Answer: a. How much of the isotope will you have left after 10 years?
Note 1 half-life (½) = 10 years
100 g ÷ 2 = 50 g
100g X ½ = 50 g
b. How much of the isotope will you have left after 20 years?
Note 20 years / 10 years = 2 half lives
100 g ÷ 2 ÷ 2 = 25 g
100 x ½ x ½ = 25 g
c. How many half-lives will occur in 40 years?
Note 40 years / 10 years = 4 half lives
100 g ÷ 2 ÷ 2 ÷ 2 ÷ 2 = 6.25 g
100 x ½ x ½ x ½ x ½ = 6.25 g

Example: Half-life of carbon-14 is 5730 years. Archeologists discover the remains of an ancient
human. The level of carbon -14 is about 25% (or ¼) of the original amount. How long ago
did this person die?

Answer: ¼ = ½ x ½ = 2 half lives

2 half-lives x 5730 years = 11,460 years ago
1 half-life

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Half-Life Practice Problems

1. If we start with 400 grams of a radioactive substance How many would remain after:

a. One Half-Life?

b. Two Half-Lives?

c. Three Half-Lives?

2. The half-life of chromium-51 is 28 days. A sample contains 510 grams.

a. How much remains after 56 days?

b. How much would remain after 1 year (use 364 days)?

c. How much was present 168 days ago (remember you are staring with 510 grams now,
determine how many half-lives have already taken place, the multiply)?

Tectonics
Be able to identify each of the following tectonic plates and the type of boundary (convergent,
divergent, or transform):

A. F. K.
B. G. L.
C. H. M.
D. I. N.
E. J. O.

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The Rock Cycle

Study the diagram and place the correct words in the missing blanks:

Sedimentary Rock Metamorphic Rock Igneous Rock Sediment Magma

Answer the following questions using the diagram:

1. What process is necessary to change a sedimentary rock to a metamorphic rock?

2. How is magma formed?

3. How are sediments formed?

4. Which process cannot happen?

a. Igneous rock → heat and or pressure → metamorphic rock
b. Igneous rock → weathering and erosion → burial → deposition → cementation →
sedimentary rock
c. Metamorphic rock → melting → solidification → igneous rock
d. Sedimentary rock → melting → solidification → metamorphic rock
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