Half-life and radioactive decay laboratory
Compare the deterministic exponential curve with an illustrative stochastic population.
SchoolLive
Scientific learning path
- 01UnderstandLive
- 02ExploreLive
- 03ExperimentLive
- 04ObserveLive
- 05ExplainLive
- 06ApplyLive
- 07TestLive
Explanation mode
Description of this simulation
From 160 initial nuclei, the deterministic curve predicts 80.0 remaining after 10 time units when the half-life is 10.
Quick test · 3 questions
- Decay constant λ
- 0.0693 time⁻¹
- Remaining fraction
- 50.00%
- Expected remaining nuclei
- 80.00
- Expected decayed nuclei
- 80.00
- Relative activity λN
- 5.545
What this model shows — and what it simplifies
Educational ModelThe exponential curve is deterministic.
Where do we see this in real life?
Half-life calculations support radiometric dating, tracer medicine, nuclear safety and planning how long radioactive waste remains active.
Explain this result
Scientific review record
Building- Module version
- v1 bundled
- Published
- Loading…
- Last reviewed
- Not yet verified
- Academic level
- School
- Reviewer
- Not publicly assigned
Loading source metadata…