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Theodrule (lemmy.blahaj.zone)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Are these decay rates specified for isolated atoms?

I believe they would decay faster when bombarded by particles from fellow atoms, no? So we'd have to account for the mass, shape and density of the samples to get true rates. I don't think that would change the rankings, but it might increase Simon's troubles if the radon was frozen or otherwise really compressed, for example.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 10 months ago

Probably yes. But I don't think that major reactions would ensue in such quantities of several grams – after all, nuclei are pretty sparse so most radiation would just escape and hit one of the chipmunks or something else. It takes many kilograms of concentrated ²³⁵U to start a runaway fission.