Estimate the Age of a Bottled Wine That Has a Tritium,

question 102

Multiple Choice

Estimate the age of a bottled wine that has a tritium, ³H, content 60% that of freshly bottled wine. Tritium decays by beta decay and has a half-life of 12.3 yr.

• A) 0.029 yr
• B) 7.4 yr
• C) 9.1 yr
• D) 16 yr
• E) 35 yr

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Definitions:

Nuclear Fusion

A process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy.

Uranium Decays

The process by which uranium atoms split into smaller parts (decay), releasing energy and creating new elements, used in both nuclear energy production and radiometric dating.

Uranium Roll-front Deposit

A type of uranium ore deposit formed by the interaction of oxidized groundwater with reducing conditions at the interface, often resulting in a crescent-shaped ore body.

Groundwater

Water that occupies the pore spaces and fractures in underground soil and rock, serving as a crucial source of water supply for both natural ecosystems and human use.