1. What is Radioactive Decay?

Radioactive decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation. The decay follows an exponential law, where the activity decreases by half over each half-life period.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the radioactive decay formula:

Where:

• \( A \) — Current activity (Bq)
• \( A_0 \) — Initial activity (Bq)
• \( t \) — Elapsed time
• \( T \) — Half-life period

Explanation: The formula calculates the remaining activity after a given time period based on the radioactive half-life of the substance.

3. Importance of Activity Calculation

Details: Accurate activity calculation is crucial for radiation safety, medical applications, archaeological dating, and nuclear industry operations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter initial activity in becquerels (Bq), time and half-life in consistent units (seconds, minutes, hours, days, or years). All values must be positive.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is half-life?
A: Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to undergo decay.

Q2: What units should I use for time and half-life?
A: Use consistent units for both time and half-life (e.g., both in hours or both in years).

Q3: Can this calculator be used for any radioactive substance?
A: Yes, as long as you know the half-life of the substance and use consistent time units.

Q4: What is the difference between activity and half-life?
A: Activity measures the rate of radioactive decays per second, while half-life measures the time it takes for activity to reduce by half.

Q5: How accurate is this calculation?
A: The calculation is mathematically exact for the exponential decay model, which accurately describes radioactive decay processes.