What is radioactive decay?
Quick Answer
Radioactive decay is the spontaneous change of an unstable atomic nucleus into a more stable one. It can occur through alpha, beta, or gamma decay.
The Full Story
Radioactive decay happens when an unstable nucleus releases energy or particles to become more stable. This phenomenon was first discovered by Henri Becquerel in 1896 and studied extensively by Marie and Pierre Curie. Different kinds of decay are linked to different forces: alpha decay involves the strong and electromagnetic forces, beta decay involves the weak force, and gamma decay involves electromagnetic radiation. The rate of decay is measured by a half-life, which can range from fractions of a second to billions of years.
Key Facts
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"Why some atoms don’t stay the same"