Radioactivity. Mechanisms and applications

This work tells the discovery of radioactivity, by specifying the respective contributions of Becquerel, Pierre and marie Curie, Rutherford. It explains its mechanisms that begin in the heart of atom and it gives the principal laws. In the different uses are showed how the carbon 14 is a watch for history, to date rocks and solar system, the radioactivity and the spatial system, tracers and isotopic labelled compounds, for nuclear medicine how to make a diagnosis and how to cure, to end by radioactivity at the service of art and industry. (N.C.)