Answer:
1976
Explanation:
The first order decay of tritium can be represented through the following expression.
[tex]ln(\frac{[H]_{t}}{[H]_{0}} )=-k.t[/tex]
where,
[H]t is the concentration of tritium after a time t has elapsed
[H]₀ is the initial concentration of tritium
k is the rate constant
Given the half-life (t1/2) is 12.3 years, we can calculate the rate constant using the following expression.
[tex]k=\frac{ln2}{t_{1/2}} =\frac{ln2}{12.3y} =0.0564y^{-1}[/tex]
The concentration of tritium at certain time is 16% of the initial concentration, that is, [H]t = 0.16 [H]₀.
[tex]ln(\frac{0.16[H]_{0}}{[H]_{0}} )=-0.0564y^{-1}.t\\t=32y[/tex]
If the watch was made in 1944, you could read the time until 1944 + 32 = 1976.
