- #1
MarkL
- 34
- 2
Take 60Fe found in meteorites. Does it start to decay the moment it is created. Or does it start to decay when it cools to a solid (a meteorite)? Does heat have anything to do with it? Thanks
Are you asking if the decay rate depends on temperature?MarkL said:Or does it start to decay when it cools to a solid (a meteorite)?
The individual atoms start decaying probabilistically according to their half-life from the moment that they are created (perhaps as decay products of other unstable isotopes, perhaps by nucleosynthesis in stars). Whether these atoms are assembled into a lump of iron or floating around in the heart of a star, whether they're part of a mass of solidified iron or a puddle of molten iron is irrelevant to their individual decay probability.MarkL said:Take 60Fe found in meteorites. Does it start to decay the moment it is created. Or does it start to decay when it cools to a solid (a meteorite)? Does heat have anything to do with it? Thanks
MarkL said:So we measure the age of the isotope, not the meteorite.
I don't think I would put it that way.MarkL said:Yes. Thank you. So we measure the age of the isotope, not the meteorite.
Isotopes begin to decay at a completely random and unpredictable time. The process of decay is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics, making it impossible to predict exactly when it will occur.
Isotopes decay due to the instability of their atomic nuclei. This instability is caused by an imbalance in the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus, which leads to the emission of radiation in order to achieve a more stable state.
The amount of time it takes for an isotope to decay is known as its half-life. Each isotope has a unique half-life, which can range from fractions of a second to billions of years. This means that some isotopes decay very quickly, while others are incredibly stable.
No, the rate of decay for an isotope is constant and cannot be altered by any external factors. This is because the process of decay is governed by the laws of physics and is not affected by temperature, pressure, or any other conditions.
After an isotope decays, it transforms into a different element with a different number of protons and neutrons. This new element may also be unstable and undergo further decay until it reaches a stable form. This process continues until a stable element is reached, known as the final decay product.