Why we can predict the unpredictable nature of atomic decay
In short: Radioactive decay is fundamentally random, making it impossible to predict when a single atom will break down. This video explains how scientists use large samples to turn this chaos into a measurable, predictable rate of decay.
At the atomic level, decay is a stochastic process; an unstable nucleus might decay at any moment, or not at all. Because we cannot pinpoint the timing of a single event, physicists look at the behavior of large groups of atoms to find patterns.
By observing a large enough sample, the frequency of decay becomes consistent. This allows for the calculation of a 'half-life'—the specific amount of time required for half of the atoms in a sample to undergo radioactive decay.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Half life | Radioactivity | Physics | FuseSchool
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