Artificial Radioculide Half-Life Based On Activation Curve

Abstract

An experiment on the activation properties of an artificial indium foil was conducted at the National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University laboratory. Background particles were first quantified in a gated chamber. A charged indium foil was positioned in the gated chamber, and the released particles were documented as impulses. The mean values of the measurements were determined together with their corresponding errors. A graph of ln A' versus time (t in minutes) was subsequently constructed. The graph's slope was calculated, representing the decay constant. The half-life of the indium foil was subsequently determined. The graph indicates that the average decay constant is 0.0133 min⁻¹ and the mean half-life is 52.2 minutes. The inaccuracy in the average decay constant and mean half-life was determined to be 1.77 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹ and 6.6 minutes, respectively. The decay curve was graphed, depicting the activity of the indium sample over time, revealing a decrease in activity as time progresses.