In what way do half-lives function?
The concept of half-lives has been burned into my mind by many, many years and classes. I just realized, however, that I was never taught the reasons behind why it works as it does
I think it would have to do with the tendency for things to move from more to less order, and that whatever is breaking down is doing so. But if that's true then why is it so uniform? Half of the remaining substance left at a time? It seems to me that the only way THAT would work would be if the atoms at the outer part of whatever mass it is are in a less uniform environment which makes them break down faster or something. I must know!
For that matter does a half-life occur instantaneously or does it occur gradually over time?