What is the half-life of Carbon-14?

Carbon-14 has a half-life of approximately 5,730 years. This makes it useful for dating organic materials up to about 50,000 years old, as beyond that point too little C-14 remains for accurate measurement.

Does half-life change over time?

No, half-life is a constant property of each radioactive isotope. It doesn't change based on temperature, pressure, or chemical environment. This consistency makes it reliable for dating and scientific calculations.

How many half-lives until a substance is gone?

Theoretically, a radioactive substance never completely disappears. After 10 half-lives, less than 0.1% remains. After 20 half-lives, less than 0.0001% remains. For practical purposes, it's considered negligible after 10-20 half-lives.

Can half-life be used for non-radioactive decay?

Yes, the half-life concept applies to any exponential decay process, including drug elimination from the body, population decline, cooling of objects, and capacitor discharge in electronics.

Half-Life Calculator – Radioactive Decay

Calculate radioactive decay, half-life, and remaining quantities. Essential for nuclear physics, chemistry, and radiometric dating applications.

Half-Life Calculator – Radioactive Decay

Calculate radioactive decay, half-life, and remaining quantities. Essential for nuclear physics, chemistry, and radiometric dating applications.

Calculate*

What you want to calculate

Initial Quantity*

Starting amount of substance

Half-Life

Half-life period (in time units)

Time Elapsed

Time that has passed

Remaining Quantity

Current amount of substance

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Math visualization will appear here

Understanding Half-Life

Half-life is the time required for half of a radioactive substance to decay. It's a constant characteristic of each radioactive isotope and is fundamental to understanding radioactive decay processes.

Applications of Half-Life

Common applications:

Carbon-14 dating for archaeological specimens
Medical radioisotope dosage calculations
Nuclear waste management and storage
Geological dating of rocks and minerals
Pharmaceutical drug elimination from the body

How to Use This Calculator

Follow these simple steps to get accurate results:

Enter your calculate
Enter your initial quantity
Enter your half-life
Enter your time elapsed
Enter your remaining quantity
Click the "Calculate" button to see your results
Review the detailed breakdown and explanation

Why Use Our Half-Life Calculator – Radioactive Decay?

100% free and no registration required
Instant, accurate calculations with professional formulas
Mobile-friendly design that works on any device
Privacy-focused - your data never leaves your browser
Educational content to help you understand the results

Frequently Asked Questions

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