Radioactive decay

• Radioactive decay


  The process by which unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation, transforming the original atom into a different element or isotope
• Types of radioactive decay

  • Alpha decay
  • Beta decay
  • Gamma decay
• Alpha decay


  • An unstable nucleus emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons (essentially a helium-4 nucleus)
• Beta decay


  • Involves the emission of a beta particle, which can be either an electron (β-) or a positron (β+), along with an antineutrino or neutrino, respectively
• Gamma decay


  • An excited nucleus emits a gamma ray, which is a high-energy electromagnetic radiation
• Half-life


  The time it takes for half of the radioactive nuclei present in a sample to decay, a characteristic property of each radioactive isotope that can vary widely from fractions of a second to billions of years
• Radioactive decay mathematical expression

  1. N(t) = N0 * e^(-λt)

  2. Where:

  3. N(t) is the number of radioactive nuclei at time t

  4. N0 is the initial number of radioactive nuclei

  5. λ is the decay constant (related to the half-life)

  6. t is the time elapsed
• Applications of radioactive decay

  • Medicine (e.g., radioactive tracers for imaging and cancer treatment)
  • Archaeology (carbon dating to determine the age of artifacts)
  • Geology (dating rocks and minerals)
  • Nuclear energy (power generation)
  • Environmental monitoring
• Radioactive materials must be handled with care due to their potential health hazards, and proper shielding, containment, and monitoring are essential to prevent exposure to harmful radiation