Question: Radioactive decay a breeder reactor converts stable uranium-238 into the isotope plutonium-239. The decay of this isotope is given by
A(t) = A0e20.00002876t
where A(t) is the amount of isotope at time t, in years, and A0 is the original amount. This isotope has a halflife of 24,101 years (that is, half of it will decay away in 24,101 years).
(a) At what rate is A(t) decaying at this point in time?
(b) At what rate is A(t) decaying after 1 year?
(c) Is the rate of decay at its half-life greater or less than after 1 year?