Radioactive Decay and Half-Life

Front

What is Radioactive Decay?

Back

Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation, resulting in the transformation of the nucleus into a different element or isotope.

Front

What is Half-life?

Back

The half-life is the amount of time it takes for half the nuclei in a sample of a radioactive isotope to decay.

Front

What is the Half-life of Iodine-131?

Back

The half-life of Iodine-131 is 8 days.

Front

What is the Half-life of Strontium-90?

Back

The half-life of Strontium-90 is 25 years.

Front

How much of a substance remains after 2 half-lives?

Back

After 2 half-lives, 25% of the original amount of the substance remains.

Front

If the half-life of a substance is 10 seconds, how much will remain after 30 seconds?

Back

After 30 seconds, which is 3 half-lives, 12.5% of the original amount will remain.

Front

What is emitted during radioactive decay?

Back

During radioactive decay, massive amounts of energy are released.

Front

What happens to the mass of a radioactive isotope over time?

Back

The mass of a radioactive isotope decreases over time as it decays into other elements or isotopes.

Front

What is a radioactive isotope?

Back

A radioactive isotope is an isotope of an element that has an unstable nucleus and can undergo radioactive decay.

Front

What is the formula to calculate remaining mass after a certain number of half-lives?

Back

Remaining mass = Initial mass × (1/2)^(number of half-lives).