Chapter 13 Radioactive Decay

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2 CHAPTER 13. RADIOACTIVE DECAY Half-life The half-life, t 1/2, is defined as follows: N(t+t 1/2) N(t) ≡ 1 2 = N 0 exp(−λt−λt 1/2) N 0 exp(−λt) = exp(−λt 1/2) , or, t 1/2 = log2 λ ≈ 0.693 λ. (13.2) Thus we see, a population of N radioactive particles at twould be reduced by half (on

  Life, Decay