Chapter 1 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

1.1. A residential development of 320 houses is being planned. For planning purposes an average daily
consumption of 120 gpcd is used. Estimate the average daily volume of water that must be supplied to this development
if each house is occupied by 4 people.

(320 houses)(4 people/ house)(120 gpcd) 153,600 gallons/ day

1.2. The maximum day demand for a current population of people is 90 MGD. The maximum day demand 20
years from the current estimate is 120 MGD. The following assumptions were made for the estimate: peaking factor =
1.5; average day demand remains constant at 150 gpcd over the 20 year period; population growth is exponential. What
annual rate of population growth was used for the estimate?

120 MGD 90 MGDek 20

1.33 e k 20
ln(1.33) k (20 )
k 0.0144
(0.0144 )100 % 1.44 %

1.3. State University has a resident population of 43,000. If the average day demand is 300 Lpcd, what average
flow rate per day (in m3/d) for a community of 20,100 that has an average day demand of 960 Lpcd.

( 43,000 people)(300 Lpcd )

1.29 m 3 / d
1000 L 3
m

1.4. If 60 percent of the average household water use in a dry climate is used outside of the house, what is the
estimated wastewater flow rate (in m3/d) for a community of 20,100 that has an average day demand of 960 Lpcd.

(20100 people)(960 Lpcd )(1.00 0.60)

7.72 10 3 m 3 / d
1000 L 3
m

Chapter 2 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

2-1. The decay of chlorine in a distribution system follows a first order decay with a rate constant of 0.360 d -1. If
the concentration of chlorine in a well mixed water storage tank is 1.00 mg/L at time zero, what will the concentration
be one day later. Assume no water flows out of the tank.

From Eq. 2-13

c
ln k t
co
c
ln 0.360 d 1 (1d )
1.00 mg / L
1
c (1.0mg / L)e 0.360d (1d )

c 0.698 mg / L

2-2. A 350m3 retention pond that holds rain water from a shopping mall is empty at the beginning of a rain storm.
The flow rate out of the retention pond must be restricted to 320L/min to prevent downstream flooding from a 6 hour
storm. What is the maximum flow rate (in L/min) into the pond from a 6 hour storm that will not flood it?

From Eq. 2-3

Mass rate of accumulation = mass rate of input mass rate of output

 350 m 3 (1000 L / m 3 ) ( x)(6hours)(60 min/ hour) (320 L / min)( 6hours)(60 min/ hour)
3.5 10 3 L 4.65 10 3 L x(360 min)
x 1290 L / min

2-3 A pipeline carrying 0.50 MGD of a 35,000 mg/L brine solution (NaCl) across a creek ruptures. The flow rate
of the creek is 2.80 MGD. If the salt concentration in the creek is 175 mg/L, what is the concentration of salt in the
creek after the pipeline discharge mixes completely with the creek water?

Using a modified Eq. 2-4

C R QR C b Qb (175mg / L)( 2.80 MGD) (35000mg / L)(0.5MGD)

C R b 5,450mg / L
QR Qb (2.80 MGD) (0.5MGD)

Or 5.45x103mg/L

2-4 A wastewater treatment plant has experienced a power outage due to a winter storm, A treatment facility
(anaerobic digester) contains 2,120m3 of wastewater at 37C. If the wastewater temperature falls below 30C, the
digester will fail. The digester is made of concrete with a thermal conductivity of 2 W/mK. The surface area of the
digester is 989.6m2. The concrete walls and ceiling are 30 cm thick. If the outside temperature is 0C and there is no
wind or sunshine, how long will the operator have to get the heating system back into operation before the digester
fails? Assume the specific heat capacity of the wastewater is the same as that of water and ignore the lack of mixing.

From Eq. 2-52

dH dT 37 0
htc A (2W / m K )(989 .6m 2 ) 244 ,101 .33W 244 ,101 .33 J / s
dt dx 0.30 m
From Eq. 2 - 47 H for 7K drop
H Mcv T ( 2120 m 3 )(1000 k g / m 3 )(4.186 10 3 J / k g K )(7 K ) 6.21 1010 J
6.21 1010 J 1 min 1hr 1day
t 254 ,485 .8s 2.95days or 3days
244,101 .33 J / s 60 s 60 min 24 hr

Chapter 3 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

3-1. A four year old child has been playing in soil contaminated with 500 mg/kg of tetrachloroethylene. It is
estimated that he ingested 5g/d of soil over a single 3 month period. The exposure frequency was 7 days per week.
What is the estimated chronic daily intake of tetrachloroethylene for the child over the 3 month period?

From Eq. 3-14

(CS )( IR)(CF )( FI )( EF )( ED)

CDI
( BW )( AT )
From Table : BW 16 kg
EF (7 day / week)(3months / year)(4 weeks/ month) 84 days/ year
(500 mg / k g)(5 g / day)(1000 mg / g )(10 6 k g / mg )(1.0)(84 day / year)
CDI 0.156 mg / kg d
(16 kg)(84 days)

3-2. Characterize the risk of an oral chronic daily intake of 50 ppb of arsenic.

From Table 3 - 3 Arsenic 1.5 kg d mg

Risk 0.050 mg kg d 1.5 k g d mg 0.075
Because 0.01 use Eq. 3 - 19
Risk 1 exp 0.075 1 0.928 0.072

3-3. Characterize the hazard of an oral chronic daily intake of 0.005mg/L of cadmium.
 Using Table 3 - 4 and Eq. 3 - 20
0.005 mg/L
HI 10
0.0005 mg / L

3-4. Estimate the concentration of Heptachlor in fish if the concentration in water is 5 ppb. The bioconcentration factor is
15,700.

1ppb 1g/L 5ppb 5g/L or 5 10 -3 mg/L

From Eq. 3 - 9

Concentration in fish 5 10 3 mg / L 15700 L / kg 78 .5mg / kg

Chapter 4 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

4-1. Lake Mead has a mean surface area of 124,200 acres and a mean annual evaporation of 849,000 acre-ft. If
the New York City water supply requires 1.53 x 109 gallons per day, how many days supply would the Lake Mead
evaporation fulfill?

(849 ,000 acre ft)(325,851gal / acre ft) 2.766 1011 gal

Converting acre-ft to gallons

2.766 1011 gal

181days
1.53 10 9 gal / d
Solving

4-2. If a steady rain of 0.33 in/h falls on a parking lot with an area of 65,340 ft 2 and a runoff coefficient of 0.85,
what is the estimated peak discharge?

65,340 ft 2
1.50 acres
43,560 ft 2 / acre
Converting square feet to acres

Q CiA (0.85)(0.33in / h)(1.50 acre) 0.42 ft 3 / s

Solving using Eq. 4-19

4-3. Water is pumped at a rate of 33.42 ft3/min from an unconfined aquifer that is 75ft deep. Wells located at 100
and 150 ft from the pumping well have drawdowns of 9 and 7 ft respectively. What is the hydraulic conductivity of the
soil? (Note: the FE manual uses permeability rather than hydraulic conductivity.)

r2 150
Q ln (33.42 ft 3 / min) ln
k r1
100 0.016 ft / min
(h2 2 h12 ) (68 2 60 2 )
(0.016 ft / min)(1440 min/ day) 23 ft / day
Solving using Eq. 4-35

4-4. What is the seepage velocity of water in an aquifer with a hydraulic conductivity of 6.9 x 10 -4m/s and
porosity of 30% if the hydraulic gradient is 0.0014?

Solving using Eq. 4-32

K ( dh / dr) (6.9 10 4 m / s )(0.0014 )

v' 3.22 10 6 m / s
0.30
(3.22 10 6 m / s)(86400 s / day) 0.28m / d

Chapter 5 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

5-1. The pH of a finished water from an excess lime softening process is 11.24. What volume of 0.0200 N sulfuric
acid, in millimeters, is required to neutralize 1.00 L of the finished water? Assume the buffering capacity is zero.

Assume only OH is present, then from Eq. 5-29

pOH 14.00 11.24 2.76
OH 10 2.76 1.74 10 3 moles / L

Recognizing that n=1 for OH and that normality = molarity and that

N x ml = N x ml

Then,

(1.74 10 3 )(1,000 ml ) (0.0200 N )(ml of acid)

ml of acid 86.89 or 87 ml

5-2. What pH is required to precipitate all but 0.20 mg/L of the iron from raw water with an Fe 3+ concentration of
2.1 mg/L? Assume the temperature is 25C. The reaction is

Fe3+ + 3OH- Fe(OH)3 and pKs= 38.57

GMW of Fe = 55.847

Ks= 10-38.57 = 2.69 x 10-39

Using Eq. 5-21

Ks = [Fe][OH]3

1/ 3
39

OH 2.69 10 6 9.09 10 12 moles / L
3.58 10
pOH log( 9.09 10 12 ) 11.04
pH 14.00 11.04 2.96

5-3. Estimate the pH of water that contains 0.6200mg/L of carbonic acid. Assume that [H +] = [HCO3-] at
equilibrium and that the dissociation of water may be neglected. The water temperature is 25C, pK a1 = 6.35 and pKa2 =
10.33. GMW of H2CO3 = 62 g/mol

Converting mg/L to moles/L

0.6200 mg / L
1.00 10 5 mole / L
62 g / mol 1000 mg / g

Using Eq. 5-33 to solve the equilibrium expression for Ka1

[ H ][ HCO3 ]
K a1 10 6.35 4.467 10 7
[ H 2 CO3 ]

Assuming that [H+]=[HCO3-] then,

[ H ]2
4.467 10 7
1.00 10 5
[ H ]2 4.467 10 12
[ H ] 2.113 10 6
pH log( 2.113 10 6 ) 5.67

5-4. Estimate the approximate alkalinity, in mg/L as CaCO 3, of water with a carbonate ion concentration of 17.0
mg/L and a bicarbonate ion concentration of 111.0 mg/L.

Calculate the equivalent weight

 100
CaCO3 50equiv
2
60
CO3 30equiv
2
61
HCO3 61equiv
1
Convert to mg/L as CaCO3 using Eq. 5 - 40
50
CO3 (17 mg / L) 28 .33mg / L as CaCO3
30
50
HCO3 (111mg / L) 90.98mg / L as CaCO3
6
Calculate approximat e alkalinity remembering that the 2 multiple for CO 32- has already been accounted for
Alk 28.33 90.98 119.32 or 119 mg/L as CaCO3

Chapter 6 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

6-1. Three parallel flow flocculation basins are to be used to treat a flow rate of 3 MGD. What is the design
volume, in cubic feet, of one of these tanks if the detention time is 30 minutes?

Parallel flow therefore,

3 10 6 gal / d
Q 1 10 6 gals / d per tank
3 tanks

The volume of one tank is

1day
volume tQ (30 min)(1 10 6 gal / d ) 3 3
(0.1337 ft / gal) 2,785 ft or 2,800ft
3

1440 min

6-2. Determine the number of rapid sand filters to treat a flow rate of 75.7 x 10 3 m3/d if the design loading rate is
300 m3/dm2. The maximum dimension is 7.5 m and the length to width ratio is 1.2:1.

Assume a length of 7.5m, then

7.5
W 6.25m
1.2
Area per filter LW (7.5m)(6.25 m) 46.88m 2
75.7 10 3 m 3 / d
Total Area required 3 2
252 m 2
300 m / d m
252m 2
No. of filters 5.38 or 6 filters
46.88m 2 / filter

6-3. Estimate the amount of lime, in tons/d, required to soften 5 MGD of water to the practical solubility limits.
The constituent concentrations are as follows:

CO2 = 0.44 meq/L Alkalinity = 3.96 meq/L

Ca2+ = 4.76 meq/L Cl- = 1.91 meq/L

Mg2+ = 1.11 meq/L SO42- = 1.58 meq/L

Lime additions:

Lime = CO2 = 0.44 meq/L

Lime = Alkalinity = 3.96 meq/L

Lime = Mg2+ = 1.11 meq/L

Total Lime = 0.44 + 3.96 + 1.11 = 5.51 meq/L

 Equivalent weight of lime:

MW of CaO = 56mg

56 mg
EW 28mg /meq
2
Converting meq/L to mg/L
(5.51meq/L)(28mg/meq ) 154.28mg/L 154 .28 ppm
(154 .28 ppm)(5MGD)(8.34lbm / gal)
tons of lime per day 3.2tons / d
2000 lbm / ton

6-4. Calculate the theoretical percent removal of a particle having a settling velocity of 0.25 cm/s settling in a
horizontal flow clarifier with an overflow rate of 0.05 cm/s.

From Eq. 6-33.

vs 0.25cm / s
%removal (100 ) (100 %) 500 %
vo 0.05cm / s
Therefore, 100%

Chapter 7 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

7-1. If the BOD5 and ultimate BOD of a municipal wastewater are 200 mg/L and 457 mg/L respectively, what is
the reaction rate constant?

From Eq. 7-4

BOD5 Lo (1 e kt )
200 457 (1 e k (5) )
200
1 e k ( 5)
457
200
ln 1 k (5)
457
k 0.115 d 1

7-2. Twenty six million gallons per day of wastewater with a DO of 1.00 mg/L is discharged into a river with a DO of 6.00 mg/L.
If the flowrate of the river is 165 x 106 gal/d and saturation value of dissolved oxygen is 9.17 mg/L, what is the oxygen deficit
after compete mixing of the two flows?

From Eq. 7-25

( 26 MGD)(1.00 mg / L) (165 MGD)(6.00 mg / L)

DOmix 5.32 mg / L
26 MGD 165 MGD
From Eq. 7 - 31
D DOs DO 9.17 5.32 3.85 or 3.9 mg/L

7-3. What is the mass loading (in lbm/d) of a 33 MGD wastewater discharge with an ultimate BOD of 30.0 mg/L?

Assuming 1mg/L 1ppm and a conversion factor of 8.34 lb m / gal

MassLoading
30 parts
6

33 10 6 gal / day (8.34lbm / gal) 8,256 .6 or 8,300 lb m / d

10 part

7-4. A stream survey revealed that the reaeration constant is 0.05 d -1 and the deoxygenation constant is 0.03 d-1. If the initial
deficit is 5.00 mg/L and the ultimate BOD after mixing is 12.0 mg/L, how long will it take to reach the critical point in the DO
sag?

From Eq. 7-46

 1 0.05
1 5.0
0.05 0.03
(50) ln (1.67)(1 0.28) 50 ln(1.20) 9.27 d
t ln
0.05 0.03 0.03 (0.03)(12 )

Chapter 8 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

8-1. A 2-liter graduated cylinder was used to determine the SVI of an activated sludge sample. The settled volume was 850
mL and the MLSS was 3,000 mg/L. What was the SVI?

From Eq. 8-33

850 mL

2L
3

10 mg / g
SVI 141 .66 or 142
3000 mg / L

8-2. Estimate the biomass concentration in CSTR aeration tank with the following operating conditions: hydraulic residence time
= 3 hrs; mean cell residence time = 6 d; yield coefficient = 0.6 mg VSS/mg BOD; decay rate = 0.1 d -1; influent soluble BOD =
200 mg/L; effluent BOD = 2.0 mg/L.

From Eq. 8-23.

(6d )(0.6mgVSS / mgBOD)(200 mg / L 2.0mg / L) 712 .8mg / L

X 3,564 or 3,600mg/L
3hr
1 ( 0
.1d 1
)(6 d )
0.2

24 hr / d

8-3. When the soluble BOD in the influent to the treatment plant rises from 133 mg/L to 222 mg/L, the operator called to
ask your advice on a new MLVSS for the plant. It has been operating with an F/M of 0.31 mg/mgd and the operator would like
to continue using the same F/M. The plant data are as follows: flow rate = 7,630 mg/L; aeration tank volume = 1,270 m 3; mixed
liquor volatile suspended solids = 2,600 mg/L

From Eq. 8-26

F (7,630 m 3 / d )(222 mg / L)
0.31
M (1,270 m 3 )(MLVSS)
(7,630 m 3 / d )(222 mg / L)
MLVSS 4,302 or 4,300 mg/L
(1,270 m 3 )(0.31)

8-4. Determine the SRT of an aerobic digester to treat 9,500 ft 3 of sludge. The sludge temperature is 10C and the 503
rules require a 38% reduction in volatile solids. Assume a 25% safety factor in estimating the SRT.

From Figure 8-33 at 38% reduction

(temperature x sludge age) = 400Cd

400 C d
SRT 40 d
10 C
(40 d )(1.25) 50 d

Chapter 9 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

9-1. A power plant emits 600g of SO2/s from an effective stack height of 300m. The wind speed at this height is 5.0 m/s. The
stability class is C. What is the maximum downwind concentration?

Using Figure 9-27 for C stability and a 300m effective stack height, the maximum concentration occurs at a distance 4km from
the stack.

mas
E

600 g

1.5 10 6 m 2 1.80 10 4 g / m 3
E 5.0m / s

9-2. Select an appropriate air to cloth ratio for fly ash and estimate the number of bags required for a gas flow rate of 15m 3/s.
Assume each bag is 15 cm in diameter and 5 m in length and that bag cleaning is by pulse jet.

Air to cloth ratio for fly ash using Table 9-19

Q (15m 3 / s )(60 s / min)

A 600 m 2
V 1.5m 3 / min m 2
600 m 2
bags 254 .65or 255bags
(0.15m)(5m / bag)

9-3. Estimate the stoichiometeric air to fuel ratio for a 100% ethanol (CH 3CH2OH) fuel. One mole of CH3CH2OH = 46g; one
mole of O2 = 32g; one mole of N2 = 28g. Assume the following reaction.

6CH3CH2OH + 36O2 + 135.36N2 12CO2 + 18H2O + 135.35N2

Ignore the oxidation of Nitrogen

Ethanol : 6mole 46 276 g

O 2 : 36 mole 32 g 1152 g
N 2 :135.36mol 28 3790.08g
Total air 4942.08g
Air 4942 .09 g
17 .91or18
Fuel 276 g

9-4. Calculate the rate of emission of SO2 in g/s that results in a centerline (y=0) concentration at ground level of 1.412x10 -
3
g/m3 on kilometer from the stack. The time of the measurement was 1 PM on a clear summer afternoon. The wind speed was
1.8m/s measured at a height of 10m. The effective stack height is 94m. No inversion is present.

From Figure 9-24, sy=215m and sz=450m then Solving using Eq. 9-25 with y = 0

xs y s z (1.412 10 3 g / m 3 ) (215 m)(450 m)(1.8m / s)

E 2
2
789 .56 g / s or 790g/s
H 94
1 / 2 1 / 2
450
e sz e

Chapter 10 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

10-1. Assuming the basic point source model applies (i.e. ignoring attenuation factors), at what distance is a 100dBA sound
pressure level measured 2m from a source attenuated to 70 dBA?

Using Eq. 10-11

 2
r2
Lp 2 Lp1 10 log
r1
2
r
70 100 10 log 2
2m
2
r2
30 10 log
2m
2
r2
3.0 log
2m
r2
1.5 log
2m
r
101.5 2
2m
r2 63.245 m or 63m

10-2. What sound power level results from combining the following three levels: 72dB, 88dB, 90dB?

Lw 10 log 10 72 / 10
10 88 / 10 10 90 / 10
Lw 10 log(1.647 10 9 )
Lw 92 dB

10-3. Compute the mean sound pressure level of the following three readings; 36dBA, 70dBA, 83dBA.

Using Eq. 10-13

1
L p 20 log
3
10 ( 36 / 20)
10 ( 70 / 20) 10 (83 / 20)

L p 20(3.83)
L p 76.69 or 77dBA

10-4. The noise levels outside a school should not exceed 70dBA. If the sound pressure level 5 m from the edge of a roadway is
80 dBA, what is the sound pressure level outside the school that is 30m from the edge of the roadway. Assume that the roadway
is a continuous line source.

Using Eq. 10-21 for a line source

30
L p2 80 dBA 10 log
5
L p2 80 10 log 6
L p2 72 .2 or 72 dBA

Chapter 11 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

11-1. A field test of a clay liner resulted in the data shown below. Estimate the hydraulic conductivity of the liner.

Thickness of the clay line=0.60m

Clay porosity= 0.55

Breakthrough time = 90.0d

Depth of leachate above the liner = 3.0m

Solve using Eq. 11-12.

 T 2 (0.6m) 2 (0.55)
K 6.11 10 4 m / d
t ( H T ) 90 d (3m 6m)
(6.11 10 4 m / d )(100 cm / m)(1d / 86400 s ) 7.07 10 7 cm / s

11-2. Estimate the percent of landfill gas that is methane for a rapidly decomposing waste with the following composition:
C68H111O50N, assume the maximum theoretical landfill gas may be estimated using Eq. 11-9.

( 4)(68) 111 2(50) 3(1)

CH 4 35moles
8
4(68) 111 2(50) 3
CO2 33moles
8
NH 3 1
Total 35 33 1 69 moles
35moles
%CH 4 (100 %) 51%
69 males

11-3. Solid waste with the density of 110 kg/m3 is spread in a 0.5m layer at a landfill. If a steel wheeled compactor can achieve a
density of 400 kg/m3, what thickness of waste will be achieved?

110 k g / m 3

400 k g / m 3 (0.5m) 0.14 m

11-4. Estimate the weekly volume of solid waste being delivered to a municipal landfill if the average solid waste generation
rate is 2.6 kg/persond. The population is 17,200 and the density as delivered is 122kg/m 3.

( 2.6k g / person day)(7d / week)(17,200 people)

2565 .90m 3 / week or 2,600m 3 / wk
122 k g / m 3

Chapter 12 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

12-1. Calculate the incinerator destruction and removal efficiency for methylene chloride using the following measurements:

Aqueous influent Stack gas effluent

Flow rate = 53.0 L/min Flow rate = 606.5 m3/min

Concentration = 7,120 mg/L Concentration = 188.3 g/m3

Solve the mass flow rate for the aqueous feed and the stack gas

Aqueous feed : (7120mg/L) (53.00L/mi n) 377,360mg/ min or 377.36g/mi n

Stack gas : (188.3g/m 3 )(606 .5m 3 / min) 114 ,203 .95 g / min or 0.1142g/mi n
Using Eq. 12 - 9
377.36 - 0.1142
DRE (100 ) 99.97 %
377 .36

12-2. What is the combustion efficiency of a PCB incinerator is the stack effluent concentration of CO =100 ppm and the
concentration of CO2= 100,000 ppm?

Solve using Eq. 12-11

CO2 100 ,000

Eff (100 %) (100 %) 99.9%
CO2 CO 100 ,000 100
12-3. If the pH controller for feeding hydroxide to a zinc precipitation tank is set at pH=8.4, what will the effluent concentration
of zinc be after settling of the precipitate? The K sp of Zn(OH)2 is 7.68x10-17.

Using precipitation Eqs. From Chapter 5

Ksp= [Zn2+][OH-]2

pOH = 14- pH = 14 8.4 = 5.60

[OH-]= 10-5.60 = 2.5119x10-6moles/L

7.68 10 17
[ Zn ] 1.217 10 5 mol / L
( 2.5119 10 6 ) 2
(65.41g / mole)(1.217 10 5 mol / L) 0.000796 g / L or 0.80mg/L

12-4. Estimate the soil partition coefficient of benzene for a soil having the following properties: bulk density = 1.4 g/cm 3,
porosity = 0.40, organic carbon fraction = 0.002, and retardation coefficient = 1.2.

Solve using Eq. 12-13

b
R 1 K oc f oc

1.4
1.2 1 K oc (0.002 )
0.4
K oc 28 .57 or 29

Chapter 13 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

13-1. Estimate the growth rate of the population of China assuming a population of 1,311 million in 2005, and population of
1,338 million in 2010 and an exponential growth rate.

Using Eq. 13-1

1,338 10 6 1,311 10 6 e k (5)

1.021 e k (5)
0.02 k (5)
k 0.00408

13-2. Estimate the growth rate (individual/individualyr) if crude birth rate is 14 per 1000, the crude death rate is 8 per 1,000 and
the net immigration is 3 per 1,000.

Using Equation 13-2

14 8 3
k 0.0090
1000 1000 1000

Chapter 14 FE EXAM FORMATTED PROBLEMS

14-1. The radioactive intensity measured 12 m from a spill is 18,000 times the safe level. At what distance must a safe
perimeter be established to prevent access during the cleanup?

Using Eq. 14-22

2
r
I 2 I 1
r2
2
12 m
I 2 18000 I 2
r2
144
0.000056
r2 2
2 144
r2
0.000056
r2 1.61 10 3 m

14-2. Determine the radioactive decay constant for radon. The half-life is 3.825d.

ln 2 0.693
0.181d 1
T1 / 2 3.825 d
Using Eq. 14-7

14-3. If the sewer discharge standard for phosphorus-32 is 9x10-6 Ci/mL, how long must a solution containing 0.60 Ci/mL be
held to meet the discharge standard? The half-life of phosphorus-32 is 14.3d.

Using Eq. 14-6

0.693
0.048 d 1
14.3d
1
9 10 6 Ci / mL (0.6Ci / L)(10 3 L / mL )e ( 0.048d )t

1
0.015 e ( 0.048d ) t
4.20 0.048t
t 87.49 d or 88 days

14-4. What particle is emitted in the decay shown below?

238 234
92 U 92Th

From Eq. 14-2 An Alpha particle is emitted since:

A 4
Z X Z 2 X 2 He
A 4