Overview: Radioactive material usually decays into other elements or isotopes over time. The half-life (t1/2) of a radioactive sample is the time needed for the number of nuclides to reach half the original value, or in simpler terms, the time it takes for half of the sample to decay. Different radioactive materials have different half lives, ranging from seconds to thousands of years. How this applies to real life? : Radioactive americium-241, with a half life of 432 years, is commonly used in smoke detectors. The emission of α-particles ionizes the air, creating a constant current within the smoke detector. When smoke enters the detector, α-particles are absorbed by the smoke, causing a sharp drop in the α-particles, thus setting off the smoke detector. In simpler terms, smoke absorbs the α-particles emitted by americium-241, when the amount of α-particles drops, the detector is triggered. Trippy huh? I know. To Calculate:   where Nt = Amount left at time t, N0 = original amount, t = time, and t1/2= half life. or simply…
  And guess what, this half life formula allows scientists to do carbon dating to find out how old for real really old stuff is. That’s pretty legit.
  

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