HALF-LIFE
AND ITS MEASUREMENT
AND ITS MEASUREMENT
Definition:
The time during which half of the
unstable radioactive nuclei disintegrate is called the half-life of the sample
of radioactive element.
unstable radioactive nuclei disintegrate is called the half-life of the sample
of radioactive element.
Explanation:
Process of radioactivity is
random and
the rate of
radioactive decay
is proportional to the number of unstable nuclei present.
random and
the rate of
radioactive decay
is proportional to the number of unstable nuclei present.
In the process, a constant fraction of
large
number of unstable radioactive nuclei decays in a certain time.
large
number of unstable radioactive nuclei decays in a certain time.
So
the life time of the unstable nuclei is unlimited and
is difficult to measure. We can get the idea about decay rate by the term
half-life.
the life time of the unstable nuclei is unlimited and
is difficult to measure. We can get the idea about decay rate by the term
half-life.
Example:
Radium-226 has a half-life of 1620 years,
which means that half of a radium-226 sample will be converted to other
elements by the end of 1620 years. In the next 1620 years, half of the remaining
radium will
decay, leaving only one-fourth the original amount of radium, and so on
which means that half of a radium-226 sample will be converted to other
elements by the end of 1620 years. In the next 1620 years, half of the remaining
radium will
decay, leaving only one-fourth the original amount of radium, and so on
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