1. What is Half Life?

Half-life is the time required for a quantity to reduce to half of its initial value. In nuclear physics, it describes how quickly unstable atoms undergo radioactive decay.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the half life formula:

Where:

• \( t_{1/2} \) — Half life (time units)
• \( \lambda \) — Decay constant (1/time)
• \( \ln(2) \) — Natural logarithm of 2 (≈0.693)

Explanation: The decay constant represents the probability of decay per unit time, and the half-life is inversely proportional to this value.

3. Importance of Half Life Calculation

Details: Calculating half-life is essential for nuclear safety, radiometric dating, medical applications of radioisotopes, and understanding radioactive decay processes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the decay constant in appropriate time units (e.g., 1/seconds, 1/years). The value must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the relationship between half-life and decay constant?
A: Half-life and decay constant are inversely related. A larger decay constant means a shorter half-life, indicating faster radioactive decay.

Q2: Can this calculator be used for any radioactive material?
A: Yes, the formula applies to all radioactive decay processes, regardless of the specific isotope.

Q3: What are typical units for decay constant?
A: Common units include 1/seconds, 1/minutes, 1/hours, or 1/years, depending on the timescale of the decay process.

Q4: How is half-life related to radioactivity?
A: Half-life determines how quickly radioactive material loses its radioactivity. Shorter half-lives mean higher initial radioactivity that diminishes quickly.

Q5: What's the difference between half-life and mean lifetime?
A: Half-life is the time for half the atoms to decay, while mean lifetime is the average time before an atom decays (mean lifetime = 1/λ).