A radioactive nucleus has a half-life of 20 years, starting with 100,000 particles, how many particles will be left exactly at the end of 40 years

The half-life of a radioactive nucleus is the time it takes for half of its particles to decay. This means that after 20 years, 100,000 particles will become 50,000 particles. After 40 years, we can find the number of particles remaining by counting the number of half-lives that have passed. Since 40 years is double the half-life of 20 years, this means that two half-lives have passed, so the number of particles will be halved twice. Starting with 100,000 particles: - After 1 half-life (20 years), there will be 50,000 particles remaining. - After 2 half-lives (40 years), there will be 25,000 particles remaining. So, exactly at the end of 40 years, there will be 25,000 particles remaining.