Nuclear Decay & Radioactivity

Visualize alpha, beta, and gamma decay with half-life calculations

Radioactive decay is a spontaneous, random process governed by quantum mechanics — individual nuclei decay unpredictably, but large samples follow precise statistical laws. The decay constant λ gives the probability per unit time that a single nucleus decays. The half-life T½ is the time for exactly half the nuclei in a sample to decay, regardless of sample size. Alpha decay emits a helium-4 nucleus, reducing A by 4 and Z by 2. Beta-minus decay converts a neutron to a proton (Z increases by 1). Beta-plus decay converts a proton to a neutron (Z decreases by 1). Gamma emission releases energy without changing A or Z. These reactions conserve charge, mass-energy, and lepton number.