GENERAL GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The rate of decay remains constant throughout the decay process. There are three ways to show the exponential nature of half-life. Equation 11 is a constant, meaning the half-life of radioactive decay is constant.

Detailed explanation-2: -The rate of decay is often referred to as the activity of the isotope and is often measured in Curies (Ci), one curie = 3.700 x 1010 atoms that decay/second. By knowing the amount of radioisotope and the activity of the sample, the rate constant can be determined.

Detailed explanation-3: -Radioactive decay occurs in atoms that become unbalanced, called radionuclides, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (opens in new tab). These radionuclides follow their own unique path of decay, transforming into different elements until they reach a stable state.

Detailed explanation-4: -Because carbon-14 decays at this constant rate, an estimate of the date at which an organism died can be made by measuring the amount of its residual radiocarbon.

Detailed explanation-5: -Radioactive decay occurs as a statistical exponential rate process. That is to say, the number of atoms likely to decay in a given infinitesimal time interval (dN/dt) is proportional to the number (N) of atoms present.