The goal of the project is to find the age of the universe according to the theory
that there were equal amounts of the two uranium isotopes U235 and U238 at
the time of the Big Bang. At present, there are 137.7 U238 atoms for each atom
of U235. We know that the half-life of U235 is 0.71 billion years, and the
half-life of U238 is 4.51 billion years, we used this information to determine the
age of the universe. We started by looking at the problem mathematically and
then after figuring out the age of the universe with the above information. We
proceeded to look for other sources of information about the age of the universe
with supporting data. The two largest sources that were found were a Seattle
University professor and a theory proposed by Edwin Hubble.
Using the information above, we
Y238(t) = Y238(0)ekt = No ekt Where No ekt is initial amount presumed equal
for both isotopes.
Y238(0) is the amount at Big Bang.
Using the half-life formula of k = -ln2/T1. Where T1 is 4.51 in billion of years.
Y235(t) = Y235(0)ekt = No ekt
Y235(0) is the amount at Big Bang.
Using the half-life formula of k2 = -ln2/T2. Where T2 is 0.71 in billions of years.
Given these equations, they hypothesis of the problem is states that
Y238(tnow) = 137.7
Y235(tnow) = 137.7
So Y238(tnow) = Y238(0) ekt = No ek2tnow = etnow(k2-K1) = 137.7
Y235(tnow) Y235(0) ekt Noek1tnow
Given that tnow cancels out for both U235 and ...