radioactive decay
Unstable nuclei emit
Radioactive decay is the spontaneous breakdown of an unstable atomic nucleus, releasing energy as particles or radiation.
The process transforms one element into another over time.
A substance's half-life measures how long until half its atoms have decayed: Carbon-14's radioactive decay allows scientists to date ancient artifacts.
The term extends metaphorically to any gradual deterioration: the radioactive decay of public trust.
- half-lifePeriod for fifty-percent reduction
- isotopeElemental variant by mass
- alpha particlesEmitted helium nuclei
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- iodine-131Radioactive halogen isotope
strontium-90 · gamma rays · cesium-137 · nuclear waste · beta particles · transmutation · glow · exothermic · carbon-14 · radiometric dating · radiocarbon dating · neutron · beta · Geiger · fallout · radiopharmaceuticals · contamination · atomic bomb
- physicsphysics, momentum, atom, acceleration, gravity
- decayrot, wilt, crumble, decomposition, fade
- Deteriorationrot, degradation, deterioration, corrosion, rotting
- random eventslottery, dice rolls, dice, coin flips, coin toss
- atomic physicsatom, atoms, atomic nucleus, electron, atomic number
- chemistryatom, atoms, organic chemistry, molecule, chemistry
radioactive decaynuclear fusion
Atoms joining, releasing power
nucleosynthesis · fusion reaction · atomic fusion · thermonuclear fusion
decay, radiant, radiate, radiance, radiation, radiator, radium, radioactive, radiating