โ™ป๏ธap environmental science review

Half-life

Written by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2027 exam
Verified for the 2027 examโ€ขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โ€ข Last updated August 2025

Definition

The time required for a radioactive element to decay to half its original mass or activity; used to calculate decay rates and radioactivity levels over time.

AP course connection

Topic 6.6: 6.6 Nuclear Power

Unit 6