What does beta mean in physics?
A beta particle, also called beta ray or beta radiation (symbol β), is a high-energy, high-speed electron or positron emitted by the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus during the process of beta decay. There are two forms of beta decay, β− decay and β+ decay, which produce electrons and positrons respectively.
What is a beta particle easy definition?
Definition of beta particle : a high-speed electron specifically : one emitted by a radioactive nucleus in beta decay.
What is beta in nuclear physics?
Beta decay is a radioactive decay in which a beta ray is emitted from an atomic nucleus. During beta decay, the proton in the nucleus is transformed into a neutron and vice versa. If a proton is converted to neutron, it is known as β+ decay. Similarly, if a neutron is converted to a proton, it is known as β- decay.
What is beta scattering?
Backscattering Theory and its Applications. When a β-particle enters a material its path can be deflected when it interacts with the nuclei of the material. The β-particles are oppositely charged to the positively charged nucleus and thus an attractive force exists between the two.
What is the beta charge?
Beta particles are negatively charged electrons emitted by the nucleus on decay (splitting of a neutron).
How is beta particle formed?
A beta particle forms when a neutron changes into a proton and a high-energy electron . The proton stays in the nucleus but the electron leaves the atom as a beta particle. When a nucleus emits a beta particle, these changes happen: the mass number stays the same.
How fast do beta particles travel?
Beta particles travel with an initial speed of about 180 million m/s, or about 0.6 light-speed. Because they are charged they will interact with electrons in atoms they come close to and cause ionization. A medium energy beta particle will travel about one meter in air but only about one millimeter through body tissue.
What is beta plus particle?
Beta particles (β) are high energy, high speed electrons (β-) or positrons (β+) that are ejected from the nucleus by some radionuclides during a form of radioactive decay called beta-decay. Beta-decay normally occurs in nuclei that have too many neutrons to achieve stability.
What is the difference between an electron and a beta particle?
Main Difference – Beta Particle vs Electron Electrons are subatomic particles that can be found in the electron cloud that surrounds the atomic nucleus. The main difference between beta particle and electron is that beta particle can have either +1 charge or -1 charge whereas electron has a -1 charge.