Understanding Radioactive Decay

How does radioactive decay work?

Answer:

Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation. This can result in the transformation of the nucleus into a more stable form. The rate of decay is measured by the half-life, which is the time it takes for half of the original sample of radioactive atoms to decay.

Exploring Radioactive Decay

Radioactive decay occurs when the nucleus of an atom is unstable and undergoes a change to become more stable. This process can result in the emission of particles and energy in the form of radiation. The rate at which this decay occurs is determined by the half-life of the radioactive substance.

During radioactive decay, the number of radioactive atoms decreases over time as they transform into more stable forms. This can be calculated using the decay constant, which is a measure of how quickly the atoms decay. By understanding the decay constant and half-life of a radioactive substance, scientists can predict the rate of decay and the amount of time it takes for the substance to reach a certain level of stability.

In the example given, the radioactive nucleus A decays into the stable nucleus B with a half-life of 22.07 seconds. By applying the law of radioactivity and calculating the decay constant, we can determine the time it takes for the radioactive substance to decay and the amount of stable nucleus B that will be produced.