Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: What Killed Arafat? Tests Hint At Possible Arafat Poisoning [View all]reorg
(3,317 posts)I have no knowledge whatsoever how this radioactive stuff works.
It says at Wikipedia that half life "is the period of time it takes for the amount of a substance undergoing decay to decrease by half."
So, after four months, the radiation of a certain amount of polonium has decreased by half, but it continues to decay and emit radiation. Then, after another four months, it has decreased by another half and so forth.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-life
In addition to its half life, wouldn't it also depend on the original amount of Polonium in a given place how long it takes until no more radiation can be detected?
And what would that original amount have to be for the reported measurements (I believe m50-180 Bq) to possibly result from Polonium planted 8 years ago?