Physics · Glossary

What is Decay constant?

Definition 32.1 High School Physics · Chapter 32 — Radioactive Decay

For each unstable nuclide there is a constant λ\lambda, its decay constant (unit s1\mathrm{s}^{-1}), such that during any short interval  ⁣dt\dd t each nucleus has probability p=λ ⁣dtp = \lambda\,\dd t of decaying — the same for every nucleus of the species, whatever its age, and untouched by temperature, pressure or chemistry.

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