Which is the BEST definition of Half-Life?
a
The half-life of a substance or element is the amount of energy it takes for all of the initial quantity of that substance or element to decay or transform into another substance.
b
The half-life of a substance or element is the amount of time it takes for half of the initial quantity of that substance or element to decay or transform into another substance.
c
The half-life of a substance or element is the amount of matter it takes for all of the quantity of that substance or element to decay or transform into another substance.
The best definition of Half-Life is option b: The half-life of a substance or element is the amount of time it takes for half of the initial quantity of that substance or element to decay or transform into another substance.
The best definition of half-life is option b: "The half-life of a substance or element is the amount of time it takes for half of the initial quantity of that substance or element to decay or transform into another substance."
To understand why this is the best definition, let's break it down:
1. "Half-life": This term refers to the time it takes for half of the initial quantity of a substance or element to decay or transform. The term "half" is important here because it signifies the point at which half of the substance has undergone the decay or transformation process.
2. "Decay or transform into another substance": Half-life doesn't always refer to radioactive decay; it can also apply to the rate of transformation of substances. Some substances naturally decay over time, while others transform into different substances through chemical reactions.
The other options provided (a and c) are not accurate definitions of half-life. Option a incorrectly states that half-life relates to the amount of energy required for decay, while option c erroneously suggests it relates to the total amount of matter required for decay.
Overall, the best definition is one that clearly explains that half-life is the time it takes for half of the initial quantity of a substance or element to decay or transform into another substance.