Beta Particle (Noun)
Meaning
A high-speed electron or positron emitted in the decay of a radioactive isotope.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made).
Examples
- Beta particles can be blocked by a sheet of paper, making them relatively safe compared to alpha particles and gamma rays.
- A beta particle is typically 10 to 100 times lighter than an alpha particle and is therefore less ionizing.
- When a neutron is converted into a proton and a beta particle, it emits an antineutrino.
- In a positron emission, the atomic number of the resulting atom decreases by one as a result of a beta particle emission.
- A Geiger counter detects the emission of beta particles and alpha particles and sometimes gamma radiation by an atom's nucleus.