- #1
esmeralda4
- 52
- 0
Hi,
My Physics textbook talks about a nucleus disintegrating. What does this mean? I understand that the nucleus will emit either an alpha, beta or gamma ray but surely the nucleus still remains after this? Does the term disintegrate just mean than the nucleus has got smaller and become a new element? Isn't this what decay means?
The textbook also gives the definition of Half Life as the time for the mass of the isotope to half. I thought it was the time for half the unstable atoms to decay. Whats the difference? A radioactive substance won't decay (or disintegrate) until it becomes nothing (zero mass), will it?
Any help would be great.
Thanks
My Physics textbook talks about a nucleus disintegrating. What does this mean? I understand that the nucleus will emit either an alpha, beta or gamma ray but surely the nucleus still remains after this? Does the term disintegrate just mean than the nucleus has got smaller and become a new element? Isn't this what decay means?
The textbook also gives the definition of Half Life as the time for the mass of the isotope to half. I thought it was the time for half the unstable atoms to decay. Whats the difference? A radioactive substance won't decay (or disintegrate) until it becomes nothing (zero mass), will it?
Any help would be great.
Thanks