
Radioactivity | Definition, Types, Applications, & Facts | Britannica
Radioactivity, property exhibited by certain types of matter of emitting energy and subatomic particles spontaneously. It is, in essence, an attribute of individual atomic nuclei.
Radioactive decay - Wikipedia
Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation.
Radioactivity: Definition, Types, Formula, and Applications
Jun 10, 2025 · Radioactivity occurs when an atom has an excess of energy, mass, or both, making its nucleus unstable. To reach a lower, more stable energy level, it releases energy in the form of …
Radioactivity and the Types of Radioactive Decay
May 30, 2021 · Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of ionizing radiation from nuclear decay and reactions. The three main types of radioactive decay are alpha, beta, and gamma decay, but there …
DOE Explains...Radioactivity - Department of Energy
Radioactivity is the release of energy from the decay of the nuclei of certain kinds of atoms and isotopes. Atomic nuclei consist of protons and neutrons bound together in tiny bundles at the center of atoms.
The Radioactive Atom: An Overview | Radiation and Your Health | CDC
Feb 22, 2024 · This process is known as radioactivity and the energy that's released is radiation. After an atom expels energy from the nucleus, the composition of the nucleus changes, and we are left …
What Is Radioactivity? (with pictures) - AllTheScience
May 21, 2024 · Radioactivity is the process whereby unstable atomic nuclei release energetic subatomic particles or electromagnetic radiation (EMR). This phenomenon can cause one element to turn into …
Radioactivity | Understanding Its Basics & Effects
May 29, 2024 · Radioactivity is a natural phenomenon involving the decay of unstable atomic nuclei, which release energy in the form of radiation. This process helps us understand atomic structures …
Radioactivity - HyperPhysics
Radioactive decay rates are normally stated in terms of their half-lives, and the half-life of a given nuclear species is related to its radiation risk. The different types of radioactivity lead to different …
What Is Radioactivity: Simple Definition, Explanation And Examples
Jun 2, 2024 · This property of turning into something new to attain stability is what we call radioactivity, and the process by which it transforms is called radioactive decay.