half life (1 Viewer)

[thuynguyen239]

just wondering that is it possible to get zero after the isotopes decay to half, then continue decay to half of that half.. (keep going to infinity) ??
thanks )

 

[b00m]

just wondering that is it possible to get zero after the isotopes decay to half, then continue decay to half of that half.. (keep going to infinity) ??
thanks )

err i never did chem, but my guess is no? doesnt seem logical that you can keep halfing to zero

 

[NewiJapper]

No. But it could possibly get to the point where it is such a small number that it is undetectable.

 

[NihaoMa]

It can never go to 0 no.

 

[ibbi00]

No, but at times the remaining quantity becomes so insignificant that it is said to be 0.

 

[Aquawhite]

If it can't be detected in ppm (or ppb for certain radioisotopes), it is considered insignificant and will therefore be deemed useless and there is essentially 0 quantity left. That said, there is always something there.

 

[ohexploitable]

just wondering that is it possible to get zero after the isotopes decay to half, then continue decay to half of that half.. (keep going to infinity) ??
thanks )

16 atoms ----> 8 atoms ----> 4 atoms ----> 2 atoms ----> 1 atom ----> no more radioactive substance

 

[NihaoMa]

16 atoms ----> 8 atoms ----> 4 atoms ----> 2 atoms ----> 1 atom ----> no more radioactive substance

Very hard to determine. But that is true.

 

[ademayd]

in theory, as time reaches infinte, it will reach zero

 

[mirakon]

dammit, i thought this thread was about the videogame.

 

[thuynguyen239]

If it can't be detected in ppm (or ppb for certain radioisotopes), it is considered insignificant and will therefore be deemed useless and there is essentially 0 quantity left. That said, there is always something there.

thanks a lot!!

 

[Entity]

dammit, i thought this thread was about the videogame.

This right here was my mindset while I was doing this in class. I had an incredible urge to don the hat of Gordon Freeman and save the world with a wrench.

That being said, Ademayd has got it right I think. Its the same in Physics with GPE, it will eventually reach 0 given infinite distance, and I think the same applies to the half life of a radioactive atom. Correct me if i'm wrong though!