2025 DSS PRELIMS P1 Q13

2025 DSS PRELIMS P1 Q13

Secondary 4
6 marks

The mass, \(m\) mg, of a radioactive substance decreases with time, \(t\) hours. It is known that \(m\) and \(t\) are related by the equation \(m=Me^{-kt}\), where \(M\) and \(k\) are constants. The table below shows measured values of \(m\) and \(t\).

\(t\) (hours)12345
\(m\) (mg)6.555.364.403.602.94
  1. Plot \(\ln m\) against \(t\) and draw a straight line graph.[2]
  2. Use your graph to estimate the initial mass of the substance,[2]
  3. the value of \(k\).[2]

Solution:

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Answer:(b) \(M=8.00\text{ mg}\) (c) \(k=0.200\text{ h}^{-1}\)

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