Nuclear instability (meaning instability of the nucleus of an atom) causes radioactive decay. This is a very complicated process, involving many subatomic particles (both fermions and bosons).
The radioactive decay of americium 241 is by alpha disintegration; the disintegration of radioactive krypton isotopes is by beta particles emission.
ernest Rutherford _______________________________________________________________ Radioactive decay was actually discovered in 1896 by Henri Bacquerel. Ernest Rutherford discovered the formula of radioactive decay (Such as the falk-life, differences between alpha and beta decay and even how the elements become new elements after the decay), but he did not discover the radioactive decay himself.
The rate of decay (activity) of a radioactive isotope is proportional to the number of atoms of the isotope present.
To fully explain radioactive decay you need quantum mechanics.
"The radioactive decay of certain unstable isotopes is used to calculate the age of objects."
The instability of the nuclei is the basic cause of radioactive decay.
Radioactive Decay
radioactive
The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.The decay of radioactive isotopes.
radioactive decay
The radioactive decay of americium 241 is by alpha disintegration; the disintegration of radioactive krypton isotopes is by beta particles emission.
If it is related to Nuclear studies, then the answer would be fusion.
Alpha decay is the type of radioactive decay that causes the radionuclide to become an element with a higher atomic number. In alpha decay, the radionuclide emits an alpha particle, which consists of two protons and two neutrons, resulting in the formation of a new element with a higher atomic number.
Decay energy is the energy that has been freed during radioactive decay. When radioactive decay is ongoing it drops off some energy by means of discharging radiation.
One reason is that radioactive decay heats the earths interior
Radioisotopes are unstable because they have an imbalance of protons and neutrons in their atomic nuclei. This imbalance causes them to be prone to undergo radioactive decay in order to achieve a more stable configuration.
That statement is not entirely accurate. Radioactive decay can involve the emission of alpha particles, beta particles (electrons or positrons), and gamma rays. Electrons can be involved in certain types of radioactive decay processes.