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- https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Astronomy__Cosmology/Astronomy_1e_(OpenStax)/07%3A_Other_Worlds_-_An_Introduction_to_the_Solar_System/7.03%3A_Dating_Planetary_SurfacesThe ages of the surfaces of objects in the solar system can be estimated by counting craters: on a given world, a more heavily cratered region will generally be older than one that is less cratered. W...The ages of the surfaces of objects in the solar system can be estimated by counting craters: on a given world, a more heavily cratered region will generally be older than one that is less cratered. We can also use samples of rocks with radioactive elements in them to obtain the time since the layer in which the rock formed last solidified. The half-life of a radioactive element is the time it takes for half the sample to decay.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Courses/Grossmont_College/ASTR_110%3A_Astronomy_(Fitzgerald)/04%3A_Introduction_to_the_Solar_System_and_Its_Formation/4.03%3A_Dating_Planetary_SurfacesThe ages of the surfaces of objects in the solar system can be estimated by counting craters: on a given world, a more heavily cratered region will generally be older than one that is less cratered. W...The ages of the surfaces of objects in the solar system can be estimated by counting craters: on a given world, a more heavily cratered region will generally be older than one that is less cratered. We can also use samples of rocks with radioactive elements in them to obtain the time since the layer in which the rock formed last solidified. The half-life of a radioactive element is the time it takes for half the sample to decay.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Astronomy__Cosmology/Astronomy_2e_(OpenStax)/07%3A_Other_Worlds_-_An_Introduction_to_the_Solar_System/7.04%3A_Dating_Planetary_SurfacesThe ages of the surfaces of objects in the solar system can be estimated by counting craters: on a given world, a more heavily cratered region will generally be older than one that is less cratered. W...The ages of the surfaces of objects in the solar system can be estimated by counting craters: on a given world, a more heavily cratered region will generally be older than one that is less cratered. We can also use samples of rocks with radioactive elements in them to obtain the time since the layer in which the rock formed last solidified. The half-life of a radioactive element is the time it takes for half the sample to decay.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/University_Physics/University_Physics_(OpenStax)/University_Physics_III_-_Optics_and_Modern_Physics_(OpenStax)/10%3A__Nuclear_Physics/10.04%3A_Radioactive_DecayIn the decay of a radioactive substance, if the decay constant \((\lambda)\) is large, the half-life is small, and vice versa. The radioactive decay law, \(N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}\), uses the propertie...In the decay of a radioactive substance, if the decay constant \((\lambda)\) is large, the half-life is small, and vice versa. The radioactive decay law, \(N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}\), uses the properties of radioactive substances to estimate the age of a substance. Radioactive carbon has the same chemistry as stable carbon, so it mixes into the ecosphere and eventually becomes part of every living organism.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/University_Physics/Physics_(Boundless)/30%3A_Nuclear_Physics_and_Radioactivity/30.2%3A_RadioactivityDetectable amounts of radioactive material occurs naturally in soil, rocks, water, air, and vegetation.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/College_Physics/College_Physics_1e_(OpenStax)/31%3A_Radioactivity_and_Nuclear_Physics/31.05%3A_Half-Life_and_ActivityUnstable nuclei decay. However, some nuclides decay faster than others. For example, radium and polonium, discovered by the Curies, decay faster than uranium. This means they have shorter lifetimes, p...Unstable nuclei decay. However, some nuclides decay faster than others. For example, radium and polonium, discovered by the Curies, decay faster than uranium. This means they have shorter lifetimes, producing a greater rate of decay. In this section we explore half-life and activity, the quantitative terms for lifetime and rate of decay.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Courses/Georgia_State_University/GSU-TM-Introductory_Physics_II_(1112)/12%3A__Nuclear_Physics/12.04%3A_Radioactive_DecayIn the decay of a radioactive substance, if the decay constant \((\lambda)\) is large, the half-life is small, and vice versa. The radioactive decay law, \(N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}\), uses the propertie...In the decay of a radioactive substance, if the decay constant \((\lambda)\) is large, the half-life is small, and vice versa. The radioactive decay law, \(N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}\), uses the properties of radioactive substances to estimate the age of a substance. Radioactive carbon has the same chemistry as stable carbon, so it mixes into the ecosphere and eventually becomes part of every living organism.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Courses/Prince_Georges_Community_College/PHY_2040%3A_General_Physics_III/10%3A_Nuclear_Physics_and_Radioactivity/10.2%3A_RadioactivityDetectable amounts of radioactive material occurs naturally in soil, rocks, water, air, and vegetation.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Courses/Bowdoin_College/Phys1140%3A_Introductory_Physics_II%3A_Part_2/07%3A__Nuclear_Physics/7.04%3A_Radioactive_DecayIn the decay of a radioactive substance, if the decay constant \((\lambda)\) is large, the half-life is small, and vice versa. The radioactive decay law, \(N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}\), uses the propertie...In the decay of a radioactive substance, if the decay constant \((\lambda)\) is large, the half-life is small, and vice versa. The radioactive decay law, \(N = N_0 e^{-\lambda t}\), uses the properties of radioactive substances to estimate the age of a substance. Radioactive carbon has the same chemistry as stable carbon, so it mixes into the ecosphere and eventually becomes part of every living organism.
- https://phys.libretexts.org/Courses/Georgia_State_University/GSU-TM-Physics_II_(2212)/12%3A__Nuclear_Physics/12.03%3A_Radioactive_DecayThe half-life \((T_{1/2})\) of a radioactive substance is defined as the time for half of the original nuclei to decay (or the time at which half of the original nuclei remain). The basic approach is ...The half-life \((T_{1/2})\) of a radioactive substance is defined as the time for half of the original nuclei to decay (or the time at which half of the original nuclei remain). The basic approach is to estimate the original number of nuclei in a material and the present number of nuclei in the material (after decay), and then use the known value of the decay constant \(\lambda\) and Equation \ref{decay law}to calculate the total time of the decay, \(t\).
