activity of the separated Th X with time can be deduced from the theory of successive changes already considered in chapter IX. In the present case there are four successive changes occurring at the same time, viz. the change of Th X into the emanation, of the emanation into thorium A, of A into B, and of B into an inactive product. Since, however, the change of the emanation into thorium A (about half changed in one minute) is far more rapid than the changes occurring in Th X or thorium A and B, for the purposes of calculation it may be assumed without serious error that the Th X changes at once into the active deposit. The 55 minute change will also be disregarded for the same reason.
Let λ1 and λ2 be the constants of decay of activity of Th X and of thorium A respectively. Since the activity of Th X and of thorium A falls to half value in 4 days and 11 hours respectively, the value of λ1 = ·0072 and of λ2 = ·063, where 1 hour is taken as the unit of time.
The problem reduces to the following: *Given the matter A (thorium X)