Half-life
- Pronunciation
- /half-life/
- Category
- Physics
- Singular
- Half-life
- Plural
- Half-lives
Definition
The time required for half of a substance to decay or reduce by half; while applicable in various fields, it's primarily used in radioactive decay and pharmacokinetics.
Etymology
A term originating in the field of nuclear physics, combining 'half' and 'life'.
Example
The half-life of radioactive carbon-14 is approximately 5,730 years.
Related Terms
- Radioactive decay
- Decomposition
Usage Notes
Half-life is a measure of the stability of a substance, particularly radioactive isotopes or pharmacological compounds.