Halflife

Half-life is the time it takes for half of a specific amount of a radioactive substance to decay or transform into a different form. Imagine starting with a certain number of radioactive atoms; after one half-life, only half of those atoms remain unchanged, while the other half have decayed. This process continues at a predictable rate, meaning the substance diminishes exponentially over time. Half-life helps scientists measure and understand the stability and age of materials, especially in fields like geology, archaeology, and medicine. It's a key concept for predicting how long a radioactive material will remain active or dangerous.