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Encyclopedia Galactica => Science => : z3ro February 15, 2013, 02:41:55 PM

: Radioactive decay
: z3ro February 15, 2013, 02:41:55 PM

I was taught that radioactive decay is a COMPLETELY random process... but I can't figure out why   ???
It is really random? completely unpredictable?  :o   :o

: Re: Radioactive decay
: Axon February 15, 2013, 03:45:22 PM

: z3ro  February 15, 2013, 02:41:55 PM

I was taught that radioactive decay is a COMPLETELY random process... but I can't figure out why   ???
It is really random? completely unpredictable?  :o   :o

I don't know what do you mean by random process? Radioactive decay happens when atoms have excess energy, and since all atoms in the universe always tend to become in a stable state. Therefore, the atoms with excess energy(excited state) lose this energy in the form of radiation called radioactive decay.

: Re: Radioactive decay
: z3ro February 15, 2013, 04:04:47 PM

Radioactive decay is a stochastic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stochastic) (i.e., random) process at the level of single atoms, in that, according to quantum theory (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_mechanics), it is impossible to predict when a particular atom will decay. However, the chance that a given atom will decay is constant over time.