What is radioactive decay (Half Life)

The original video about Tritium and Russian nuclear weapons can be found here:

Radiation is really one of two things - particles moving very fast (like the beta particle in this example) or waves (like x-rays) that are emitted when energy is released.

Isotopes like Tritium are unstable because they have one extra neutron, this neutron has a chance of turning into a proton because nature hates instability. When this happens, a beta particle is released.

Half life is the time it takes for half of the quantity of an isotope to turn into naturally turn into something else.

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[RyanMcBethProgramming]

The original video about Tritium and Russian nuclear weapons can be found here:

Radiation is really one of two things - particles moving very fast (like the beta particle in this example) or waves (like x-rays) that are emitted when energy is released.

Isotopes like Tritium are unstable because they have one extra neutron, this neutron has a chance of turning into a proton because nature hates instability. When this happens, a beta particle is released.

Half life is the time it takes for half of the quantity of an isotope to turn into naturally turn into something else.

Watch all of my long form videos:

Connect with me on
Twitter:
@ryanmcbeth

I don’t have a Patreon account. If you want to give me money, give it to:
HelpIsOnTheWayUA.com
Or
WCK.org
Or
Gsmsg.org

Join the conversation:

Want to send me something?
Ryan McBeth Productions LLC
8705 Colesville Rd.
Suite 249
Silver Spring, MD 20910
USA

[SnepLeo]

_They're waiting for you Ryan...at the test chamber._

[fixer]

Ryan mentioning Half-Life, automatic like.

[lawman]

HE SPOKE OF THE FREEMAN, HE IS ONE OF US!!!

[Bizob]

Tritium has 3 nuclear particles...
So...
Half-life 3 confirmed?

[mcloutier]

A proton walks into a bar, says "I'm so depressed. I lost an electron." Bartender says, "Are you sure." Proton says, "I'm positive."

[MegaCdjohnson]

Ryan mentions Justin Tucker and the Ravens, I click like. It’s simple science really

[bonkboytf]

... has a Half-life.
[VALVe theme starts playing]

[Awarthoglol]

Ryan doesn't need to hear all this, he's a highly trained professional!

[eardwulf]

everyone's gangster until the protons get positively charged

[atomicwinter]

"I took the liberty of relieving you of your weapons; most of them were government property..."

[theedslanky]

you just explained why isotopes are important in science way better than my science classes ever did

[bobthreetimes]

Bruh this came out just as we started the radiation unit is chemistry, I am 1 step ahead

[prototype_xD]

Love the shout-out to the Half Life game! Thanks for all you do!

[gangrel]

Woohoo love some half-life especially the cesium clocks we used for timing in our SATCOM systems when I was in the Army.

[borisreid]

Actually only trace amounts of tritium are used.
Main Thermonuclear weapon fuel is Lithium Deuteride (LiD), i.e chemical compound of lithium and deuterium. When activated, the fusion reaction begins with deuterium fusing with tritium. As a result of this fusion, a number of fast neutrons emitted. These neutrons hit the LiD, lithium captures this neutron and almost immediately becomes tritium which reacts with deuterium in the compound with much more neutrons being emitted. Very elegant solution. Tritium is very expensive and its global quantity is measured in tens of kilograms.

[theitalianfukr]

Rise and mr McBeth Ryan, Rise and shine

[SkinnerBeeMan]

Pro edit Ryan. I liked the visuals and the pop culture references. Very slick.

[marcobisi]

You're really knowledgeable in a lot of subjects, I respect that.

[LegendStormcrow]

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