Decay constant

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…

Half-life

In physics, half-life refers to the time it takes for half of the atoms in a particular sample of a radioactive substance to decay. This decay process is random and unpredictable, so the half-life of a substance cannot be predicted with certainty. However, for any given substance, the half-life is a constant value, meaning that…