1. What happens in the process of radioactive decay? What is the half-life of a radioactive substance, and how is it used to date an object?

Respuesta :

In radioactive decay, an unstable atomic nucleus emits particles or radiation and converts to a different atomic nucleus. If the new nucleus is unstable, it will decay again, until eventually, a stable nucleus is formed. Such a sequence of nuclear decays forms a decay series.

The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time required for half of the atoms of a radioactive isotope to decay. If you have, say, 1 million atoms of a specific isotope in a sample, the time required for 500,000 of those atoms to decay is the half-life of that specific isotope. If you have 50 atoms of that isotope, 25 atoms will decay in the same amount of time.

Because the half-life is fixed for a specific isotope, it can be used to date objects. You compare the decay rate of an old object with the decay rate of a fresh sample. Nuclear decay is a first-order process and can be described by a specific mathematical equation, which depends on the decay rate and the half-life. Knowing those values, you can work back and determine the age of an object, as compared with a standard sample. Old objects will not have as much of a radioactive isotope in them as new objects, since the isotopes will have decayed over time in the old object.

In radioactive decay, an unstable atomic nucleus emits particles or rays and converts them into a separate atomic nucleus. If the new nucleus is not stable, it will decayed and, eventually, to form a stable nucleus. Such a sequence of nuclear decay creates a series of decay.

What is the half-life of a radioactive substance?

Half life of a radioactive substance is required for the half-life of the radioactive isotope atoms to decay. If having 1 million atoms in a particular sample, the time required for 500,000 of those atoms to decay is half the life span of that particular nucleus. If having 50 atoms, 25 atoms will decay at the same time.

How is half-life used to date an object?

Because the half-life is fixed for particular isotopes, it can be used to date things. one compares the decay rate of an old item with the rate of decay of a new sample. Nuclear decay is a first order process and can be explained by specific mathematical calculations, depending on the rate of decay and half life. By knowing those values, you can go back and determine the age of the object, compared to the normal sample. Older things will not have radioactive isotope as much as new ones, as isotopes will decay over time in the old material.

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