Radioactive decay (11) Flashcards
1
Q
Radioactive decay
A
is a random process. Described by the term ‘half-life’.
2
Q
Half-life
A
one half-life is the time taken for half of a sample of radioactive nuclei to decay.
3
Q
Decay constant, λ
A
the probability of a nucleus decaying per unit time.
4
Q
Activity
A
the activity of a radioactive source is the number of disintegrations per second (unit is becquerel, Bq):
A=λN
5
Q
Daughter nucleus
A
the product of the decay of a radioactive (‘parent’) nucleus.
6
Q
Metastable state
A
when an atom or nucleus is in a metastable state, it exists for an extended time in a state other than the system’s state of least energy.
