word
half-life calculation
HAHF-lyf kal-kyoo-LAY-shun
/ˈhɑːflaɪf ˌkælkjʊˈleɪʃən/Listen
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Syllable breakdown
halflifecalculation
Dictionary meaning
The mathematical determination of how much radioactive material remains after a given time using the decay constant and the formula N(t) = N₀ × (1/2)^(t/t½); used in nuclear waste management, radiometric dating, nuclear medicine dosing, and reactor physics
History and origin
Half-life concept formalised by Ernest Rutherford and Frederick Soddy in 1902; the calculation is a direct application of exponential decay mathematics
Examples
- Half-life calculations showed that the plutonium-239 in a storage facility would remain hazardous for over 240,000 years.
- In nuclear medicine, half-life calculations ensure patients receive the correct therapeutic dose of radiopharmaceutical.
Synonyms: radioactive decay calculation, decay constant analysis
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