What is the law of radioactive decay?

The law of radioactive decay states that the rate of decay of a radioactive substance is proportional to its amount.

Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus emits particles or electromagnetic radiation, resulting in the transformation of the nucleus into a more stable state. The rate of decay is measured by the half-life, which is the time taken for half of the original sample to decay. The law of radioactive decay states that the rate of decay is proportional to the number of radioactive nuclei present. This means that the more radioactive nuclei there are, the faster the rate of decay.

The law of radioactive decay can be expressed mathematically using the equation N = N0e^(-λt), where N is the number of radioactive nuclei at time t, N0 is the initial number of radioactive nuclei, λ is the decay constant, and e is the mathematical constant 2.718. The equation shows that the number of radioactive nuclei decreases exponentially with time, with a characteristic decay constant that is unique to each radioactive substance.

The law of radioactive decay has many practical applications, including in radiometric dating, which is used to determine the age of rocks and fossils. It is also used in medical imaging, where radioactive isotopes are used to trace the movement of substances within the body. Understanding the law of radioactive decay is therefore essential for many fields of science and technology.