In the context of radioactivity, half-life and mean life are two important concepts that describe the decay of a radioactive substance over time. Half-life refers to the amount of time it takes for half of the original quantity of a radioactive substance to decay. For example, if you start with 100 grams of a substance…
The decay constant, usually denoted by the symbol λ (lambda), is a fundamental parameter in radioactive decay. It is the rate at which a radioactive substance decays, or the probability of decay per unit time. Mathematically, the decay constant can be defined as the ratio of the number of radioactive nuclei that decay in a…
The law of radioactive decay is a fundamental principle of nuclear physics that describes the process by which unstable atomic nuclei spontaneously emit radiation and transform into more stable nuclei. This process is known as radioactive decay. The law of radioactive decay states that the rate of decay of a radioactive substance is proportional to…
Alpha (α), beta (β), and gamma (γ) radiation are three types of ionizing radiation emitted by radioactive elements. Alpha radiation consists of positively charged particles made up of two protons and two neutrons, which is essentially a helium nucleus. It is relatively heavy and has a short range in air, typically traveling only a few…
An atomic nucleus is the central part of an atom that contains most of the atom’s mass. It is composed of protons and neutrons, which are collectively called nucleons. Protons have a positive charge, while neutrons are neutral. The number of protons in the nucleus is called the atomic number and determines the element to…
