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somecelxis
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Homework Statement
a patient who is undergoing cancer theraphy is given 10 mins of irradiation from a radioactive source that has half life = 2 years. If the same source is to be used for same treatment 2 years later , how long should the patient should be irradiated?
the ans is 20 mins .. can someoene teach me how to do this?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
i was told that:
at time = 0 (ie. Now) the patient undergoes 10 mins of irradiation. Let's say the amount of radioactivity of the source now is at 100%
We are told that it's half life is 2 years which means in 2 years the radioactivity of the source is at 50%.
So suppose it is 2 years later
if the patient's therapy lasts 10 min - he gets 50% dosage.
if the patients therapy goes another 10 min - he gets another 50% dosage
So a total of 20 min of therapy results in (50% + 50% = 100% same dosage as he received 2 years earlier)
but why if the patient's therapy lasts 10 min - he gets 50% dosage. ??[/B]