The rule is that a sample is safe when its radioactivity has dropped below detection limits. And that occurs at 10 half-lives. So, if radioactive iodine-131 (which has a half-life of 8 days) is injected into the body to treat thyroid cancer, itâll be âgoneâ in 10 half-lives, or 80 days.
The term 'ratchet' has no less than two distinct meanings. As an adjective, it describes a person, usually a woman, or activity, who is out of hand, out of control, generally whack in some way, dirty, ghetto, unattractive, Crucian, or just generally disliked.
ratchet effect. Tendency of people to be influenced by the previous highest (or best) level of a factor (variable). For example, workers' satisfaction from the current salary increment depends on how it compares with the highest increment received in the past. Use 'ratchet effect' in a Sentence. You need to understand how a ratchet effect may change the market and quickly adapt to it as best you can. 19 people found this helpful. Even though John received a 4% increase in salary this year, it was not quite as good as the 8% he got a few years ago. This ratchet effect caused him to not enjoy the raise as much as before. 14 people found this helpful The ratchet effect of reducing the size of a large soda, is people now feel like they are not getting their moneys worth of the product.