nuclear decay
Unstable nucleus transforms
Nuclear decay is the spontaneous transformation of an unstable atomic nucleus, which releases energy by emitting particles or radiation.
The process converts one element into another—uranium decays into lead over billions of years, while other isotopes decay in fractions of a second.
The rate is measured by half-life: the time for half a sample to decay.
Also called radioactive decay.
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- radioactivitySpontaneous nuclear decay
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- gamma raysHighest-frequency electromagnetic radiation
- emissionDischarged substance or act
uranium · plutonium · atomic bomb · transmutation · radionuclide · radiometric dating · carbon dating · smoke detector · radioisotope · spent fuel · alpha particles · neutron · thorium · beta · Geiger · fallout · particle accelerator · curie
- decayrot, wilt, crumble, decomposition, fade
- atomic physicsatom, atoms, electron, atomic number, atomic mass
- nuclear scienceradiation, neutrons, atoms, fission, uranium
- nuclear physicsfission, neutron, proton, reactor, atomic number
- cell pathologyapoptosis, necrosis, cell death, cell lysis, DNA damage
- Chemistry Calculationsstoichiometry, moles, balancing equations, balanced equation, chemical equation
nuclear decaynuclear fusion
Atoms joining, releasing power
nucleosynthesis · fusion reaction · thermonuclear fusion · accretion
decay, nuclear, nucleus, nuclei, nuclide, radioactive decay, nuclear fission, nuclearize, nuclearization