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Radioactivity 

Most atoms are stable. Some atoms are unstable. These unstable atoms will decay until they are stable. When they decay they give out radiation. Atoms that give out radiation are called radioactive or radioisotopes. Once they are stable they will stop decaying and no longer be radioactive. 


Radioactive Decay  is a random process. You predict how many decays there will be in a given time but you cannot predict which atom will decay next. 

The activity of a radioactive source can be measured using a Geiger-Muller tube. Its units are counts/second or Bequerels,Bq


Find out more in the following sections.
Structure of an Atom
Types of Radiation
Uses of Radiation
Nuclear Fission
Half Life
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  • Home
  • GCSE
    • Combined Science >
      • The History of the Universe
      • Telescopes
      • Infrasound
      • The Structure of the Earth and Seismic Waves
      • Life Cycle of a Star
      • The Big Bang Theory and The Doppler Effect
    • Radioactivity >
      • The Structure of an Atom
      • Types of Radiation
      • Uses of Radiation
      • Nuclear Fission
      • Half Life
    • Electricity >
      • Static Electricity
      • Current, Voltage, Energy
      • Circuit Symbols
      • Series and Parallel Circuits
      • Ohm's Law and Resistance
      • Alternating Current
      • Electrical Safety
      • Energy and Pricing
      • The National Grid
    • Electromagnetism >
      • Magnets and Electromagnets
      • Electromagnetic Induction
      • Motors and Generators
      • Transformers
    • Waves >
      • Sound and Ultrasound
      • Wave Properties >
        • Reflection and Refraction
        • Diffraction
        • Images in a Mirror
        • Interference
      • EM Spectrum and it's uses >
        • Radiowaves
        • Microwaves
        • Infra Red
        • Visible Light
        • UV
        • X- Rays
        • Gamma Rays
    • Forces and Motion >
      • Speed and Velocity
      • Graphs of Motion
      • Newton's Laws
      • Common Forces
      • Terminal Velocity
      • Elasticity
      • Moments
      • Circular Motion
      • Momentum
      • Car Safety
    • Particles >
      • States of Matter
      • Density
      • Pressure
      • Ideal Gases
      • Changing State and Temperature >
        • Specific Heat Capacity
        • Specific Latent Heat
      • Heat Transfer >
        • Conduction
        • Convection
        • Cooling
        • Radiation
    • Energy Resources and Energy Transfer >
      • Energy and Efficiency
      • Heat Loss In the Home
      • Gravitational Potential Energy
      • Kinetic Energy
      • Work
      • Power Stations
  • Physics Skills
    • How to Write up an Experiment >
      • Hypothesis
      • Methods
      • How to Draw a Graph
      • Results Tables
      • Conclusions
      • Evaluations
    • Mathematics >
      • Rearranging Equations
      • Substituting into Equations
      • Trigonometry
      • Errors
  • Lesson Blog
  • Apps
  • Teachers Area