Answer:
A beta particle is an electron or a positron that is emitted from an atomic nucleus during the process of beta decay.
Types of Beta Particles:
1. Beta Minus (β-) Particle:
- This is an electron emitted from the nucleus of an atom.
- It occurs when a neutron in the nucleus decays into a proton, an electron (the beta particle), and an antineutrino.
2. Beta Plus (β+) Particle:
- This is a positron (the antimatter counterpart of the electron) emitted from the nucleus.
- It occurs when a proton in the nucleus decays into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino.
Comparisons with Other Particles and Radiation:
Electron: An electron is a fundamental subatomic particle with a negative electric charge, commonly found in the electron cloud surrounding an atomic nucleus. A beta-minus particle is essentially a high-energy electron emitted during radioactive decay.
Neutron: A neutron is a subatomic particle with no electric charge found in the nucleus of an atom. Neutrons are involved in the beta decay process but are not themselves beta particles.
Electromagnetic Radiation: Electromagnetic radiation encompasses a range of energies, including gamma rays, X-rays, visible light, and radio waves. Unlike beta particles, electromagnetic radiation consists of photons, which are massless particles of energy, rather than charged particles like electrons or positrons.
In summary, a beta particle is either an electron (beta-minus) or a positron (beta-plus) emitted from an atomic nucleus during radioactive decay.
