What is a half-life?
A)It is the time it takes for 1/2 of the material to undergo radiodecay.
B)It is the time needed until 1/2 of the radiation is gone.
C)It is the time it takes for 1/2 of the material to decompose.
D)It is half of the lifetime of the radioactivity in a sample.
E)all of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A half-life is the time it takes for half of the radioactive material to undergo radiodecay. This means that after one half-life, half of the radioactive material will have decayed, and after two half-lives, only one quarter of the material will remain. Option B is a common misconception about half-life, as the radiation does not "go away" but rather decreases as the material decays. Option C refers to a different process called decomposition. Option D is not entirely accurate as the lifetime of radioactivity varies based on the material and the radioactive isotope involved.

What Is a Half-Life