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The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the length of time for one half of a given sample to decay into another isotope (usually of a different element). It is a logarithmic process. After 1 half-life, there is half of the sample remaining; after 2 half-life's there is one quarter of the sample remaining; after 3, one eighth, etc. Each isotope has a different half-life, ranging from femtoseconds to billions of years.
The equation for nuclear half-life is
AT = A0 2(-T/H)
Where A0 is the original activity of the sample, AT is the activity of the sample after some time T, and H is the half-life in units of T.
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On the other side of the coin, is biological half-life, which is an approximation of how long it takes for one half of an ingested material (not necessarily radioactive) to leave the body. It is not necessarily logarithmic. It depends on various things, such as the metabolic rate in the liver, the excretion rate in the kidneys, the respiration rate in the lungs, the waste elimination rate in the intestines, etc.
Wiki User
∙ 9y ago
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoFree neutrons within a rest frame have a half-life of 881 seconds, as best we can determine.
The mean lifetime is almost 15 minutes, ~611 seconds. There is a set relationship between mean lifetime and half-life (look at the shape/type of distribution). Multiply by ln(2) to get 881. The means of decay of a free neutron (not in a nucleus) is a beta decay.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agothe half-life is the time it takes for half a given quantity radioctive material to decay into more stable elements.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoHow can you get half a neutron?
Wiki User
∙ 14y agoIt is a bit over two days. 2.117 days.
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How do you determine the half life of a radioactive substance that has changed through radioactive decay After 40 days the original substance left is is one sixteenth of the original amount?
the halflife is 10 days
Where do gamma rays originate?
by radioactive source
Which energy source generates radioactive waste?
Nuclear Energy.
How long will it take half of a radioactive sample to decay?
The length of time depends on the element and isotope, but the point at which half of the sample has decayed is known as the half-life.
What was wrong with using plutonium as the source of nuclear energy?
Nothing is wrong; but plutonium is very toxic, radioactive - dangerous.
Is any isotope of lead is radioactive?
many. one example is lead-214 with a halflife of 26.8 minutes.
How would you describe the isotopes of hydrogen?
All atoms of a specific element have the same number of protons in their nucleus, but the number of neutrons in the nucleus may vary these are isotopes of that element.Hydrogen has several possible isotopes, only the first three of these are commonly referred to:hydrogen or protium or hydrogen-1, 1 proton 0 neutrons, stabledeuterium or hydrogen-2, 1 proton 1 neutron, stabletritium or hydrogen-3, 1 proton 2 neutrons, radioactive halflife 12.26 yearshydrogen-4, 1 proton 3 neutrons, radioactive halflife about 139 yoctosecondshydrogen-5, 1 proton 4 neutrons, radioactive halflife about 910 yoctosecondshydrogen-6, 1 proton 5 neutrons, radioactive halflife 290 yoctosecondshydrogen-7, 1 proton 6 neutrons, radioactive halflife 23 yoctosecondsetc.
What is the time needed for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to break down to form daughter isotopes called?
halflife
Is it true that the half-life of a radioactive isotope decreases as the isotopes decay?
no, halflife is a constant for each isotope's decay process.
What if your cat is radioactive with the same halflife as carbon 14. how many years will it take for three fourths of your cat to degrade?
my grandma
How do you determine the half life of a radioactive substance that has changed through radioactive decay After 40 days the original substance left is is one sixteenth of the original amount?
the halflife is 10 days
How do scientists use the halflife of radioactive isotopes to date rocks and fossils?
The basic idea is to compare the abundance of a naturally occurring radioactive isotope within a material to the abundance of its decay products; it is known how fast the radioactive isotope decays.
What is meant by the word radioactive?
emits radioactive particles.
WHAT DOES The amount of radiation that an individual absorbs depends on?
Time exposed to a radioactive source and the Distance a person is from a radioactive source and Type and amount of shielding between a person and a radioactive source.
What is sealed and unsealed radioactive source?
sealed radioactive source means the radioactive isotopes which is encapsulated with a stainless steel to avoid higher LET radiation condamination .typically source may be used in brachytherapy to treat the cancer and unsealed source used to in nuclear medicine which is the radioactive source is not sealed examble IODINE131
What is the source of heating in the mantle?
Source of heat in mantle come from radioactive decay of the radioactive elements inside the earth..
The amount of radiation that an individual absorbs depended on what?
Time exposed to a radioactive source Distance a person is from a radioactive source Type and amount of shielding between a person and a radioactive source X All answers are correct
