Radioactive Decay
Slide 4 of 18
When the atom rearranges itself we call the event a decay or disintergration.
The number of atoms decaying at during a given time is dependent on the total number present and the stability of the atom. The time it takes for half of the material to decay is called the "HALF-LIFE" of the material.
An anology to this process is when a container full of water leaks out of a hole in the bottom. As the water level decreases, the water flows slower and slower.
Each isotope has a unique half life that does not change. Half lifes range from fractions of seconds to billions of years.
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