Which of the following is the measure of radio active decay rate?

alpha emission

beta emission

half-life

gamma emission

Option C

Explanation:

Radioactive decay is the loss of elementary particles from an unstable nucleus, ultimately changing the unstable element into another more stable element.

The number of protons and neutrons found in the daughter nuclei (the nuclei produced from the decay) are determined by the type of decay or emission that the original element goes through.

There are two ways to characterize the decay constant: mean-life and half-life. In both cases the unit of measurement is seconds. As indicated by the name, mean-life is the average of an element's lifetime and can be shown in terms of following expression

Nt=N₀ * e^ (-λt).

Half-life is the time period that is characterized by the time it takes for half of the substance to decay (both radioactive and non-radioactive elements). The rate of decay remains constant throughout the decay process. It is shown by:-

Nt=N₀ * (1/2) ^ (t/t₁₂).