
Radioactivity | Definition, Types, Applications, & Facts | Britannica
Dec 6, 2025 · Radioactivity, property exhibited by certain types of matter of emitting energy and subatomic particles spontaneously. It is, in essence, an attribute of individual atomic nuclei.
Radioactive decay - Wikipedia
Radioactive decay (also known as nuclear decay, radioactivity, radioactive disintegration, or nuclear disintegration) is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by radiation.
DOE Explains...Radioactivity - Department of Energy
Radioactivity is the release of energy from the decay of the nuclei of certain kinds of atoms and isotopes. Atomic nuclei consist of protons and neutrons bound together in tiny bundles at the center of atoms.
Radioactivity and the Types of Radioactive Decay
May 30, 2021 · Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of ionizing radiation from nuclear decay and reactions. The three main types of radioactive decay are alpha, beta, and gamma decay, but there …
Radioactivity: Definition, Types, Formula, and Applications
Jun 10, 2025 · Radioactivity occurs when an atom has an excess of energy, mass, or both, making its nucleus unstable. To reach a lower, more stable energy level, it releases energy in the form of …
The Radioactive Atom: An Overview | Radiation and Your Health | CDC
Feb 22, 2024 · This process is known as radioactivity and the energy that's released is radiation. After an atom expels energy from the nucleus, the composition of the nucleus changes, and we are left …
Radiation Basics | US EPA
Sep 10, 2025 · Radiation can come from unstable atoms or it can be produced by machines. There are two kinds of radiation; ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Learn about alpha, beta, gamma and x-ray …
Radioactivity - HyperPhysics
Radioactive decay rates are normally stated in terms of their half-lives, and the half-life of a given nuclear species is related to its radiation risk. The different types of radioactivity lead to different …
Radiation Basics | Nuclear Regulatory Commission
These forces within the atom work toward a strong, stable balance by getting rid of excess atomic energy (radioactivity). In that process, unstable nuclei may emit a quantity of energy, and this …
11.1: Radioactivity - Chemistry LibreTexts
Dec 29, 2025 · This page offers a comprehensive overview of radioactivity, detailing atomic structure and the different types of radioactive emissions: alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.