Beta Radiation (Noun)
Meaning
Radiation of beta particles during radioactive decay.
Classification
Nouns denoting natural phenomena.
Examples
- Beta radiation may be stopped by a layer of aluminum or thick cardboard, but it requires dense material like lead to significantly reduce the intensity of beta particles.
- Radioactive materials undergoing beta decay release beta radiation, in the form of electrons, that travel long distances in air and can cause destructive damage to surrounding tissues.
- Beta radiation emitted by beta particles carries away a significant percentage of the energy released during radioactive decay, but it also carries away a significant portion of the negative charge.
- Precautions should be taken when handling materials that emit beta radiation, as the electrons have the ability to cause damage to surrounding cells.
- Researchers analyzing materials with beta radiation take special precautions to shield their skin from beta particles that are highly penetrating yet relatively low in mass and ionization power.