Strontium-90, with a half-life of 28 years, is a radioactive waste product from nuclear fission reactors. One of the reasons great care is taken in the storage and disposal of this substance stems from the fact that strontium-90 is, in some chemical respects, similar to ordinary calcium. Thus strontium-90 in the biosphere, entering the food chain via plants or animals, would eventually be absorbed into our bones. (a) Compute the decay constant K for strontium-90. (b) Compute the time required if a given quantity of strontium-90 is to be stored until the radioactivity is reduced by a factor of 1000
(c) Using half-lives, estimate the time required for a given sample to be reduced by a factor of 1000. Compare your answer with that obtained in (b).