AlgebraLab

Half-life

Subject undefined

Pronunciation: HALF-LIFE

Definition

the amount of time required for half of an original sample of radioactive material to decay or undergo radioactive transformation

Example

On the graph given below, the half-life is approximately 2.5 seconds. At time t = 0, there are originally 200 nuclei that have not decayed. After 2.5 seconds, half, or 100 nuclei that have not decayed still remain in the radioactive sample.