Education & Student
Half Life Calculator
Half Life — it models exponential decay: remaining amount = initial × (½)^(elapsed time ÷ half-life). This page runs that same calculation on your numbers, in your browser: no signup, no uploads, nothing stored.
From your initial amount, half-life and elapsed time, Half Life Calculator computes the amount remaining (or the half-life) via remaining = initial × ½^(time ÷ half-life). No accounts, no uploads — just an instant way to work out radioactive decay.
About this calculator
Get half life right and the rest of the task gets easier. It models exponential decay: remaining amount = initial × (½)^(elapsed time ÷ half-life). It matters when grades, percentages or averages decide a next step and hand arithmetic is error-prone. After 3 half-lives, a sample falls to (½)³ = 12.5% of its starting amount. The tool above does the same computation in your browser — free, private, nothing stored.
How to use
- Enter the initial amount N₀.
- Enter the half-life.
- Enter the elapsed time (same unit as the half-life).
- Press Calculate to find the remaining amount.
Why use Half Life Calculator
Fast
Calculations run in your browser. No round trip to a server.
Private
Your inputs never leave your device. Nothing is uploaded.
Free
No signup, no paywall, no ads-in-results, no watermarks.
Accurate
Uses standard formulas for quick educational estimates; check critical results before relying on them.
Mobile-ready
Optimised for phones, tablets, and desktops alike.
Transparent
Honest disclaimers wherever browser limits or regional rules apply.
Common uses
Use it for quick what-if calculations
Use it for tutoring and study groups
Use it when teaching a science concept
Half Life in applied-science problems
Use it for physics and engineering coursework
Use it before a practical assessment
Technical notes
Half Life Calculator models exponential decay: remaining amount = initial × (½)^(elapsed time ÷ half-life).
Results assume ideal conditions and consistent units, so convert your inputs to the units shown before calculating.
Nothing you type is uploaded — the calculation happens entirely on your device.
FAQ
What units should half-life and elapsed time use?
Use the same time unit for both (for example both in years or both in seconds); only their ratio matters.
What formula is used?
It uses N = N₀ × (1/2)^(t / t½), the exponential decay relationship.
What does the number of half-lives mean?
It is the elapsed time divided by the half-life, telling you how many times the amount has halved.
Does the Half Life Calculator send my data to a server?
No. The Half Life Calculator runs entirely in your browser, so nothing you enter is uploaded, stored, or shared.
Worked example
After 3 half-lives, a sample falls to (½)³ = 12.5% of its starting amount.