decay constant equation

The decay constant, often represented by the Greek letter λ, measures how quickly a radioactive substance undergoes decay. It indicates the probability per unit time that a single atom will decay. A larger decay constant means the substance decays faster. The relationship can be expressed as an exponential equation: the amount of remaining radioactive material decreases over time according to this decay constant. In essence, it characterizes the rate at which radioactive atoms transform into other elements, helping scientists understand how long a substance will remain radioactive and how quickly it will decay.