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Beta Radiation

Beta particles are fast-moving electrons or positrons from the nucleus.A β- particle is emitted from the nucleus when a neutron decays into a proton. Beta minus decay happens when there are too many neutrons.
A β+ particle is the antiparticle of an electron and is emitted from the nucleus when a proton decays into a neutron.When an unstable element emits a beta minus particle the atomic number increases by one and the atom changes into a different element.

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Specification: AQA Physics (7407), AS-level, 3.2.1.3 Particles, antiparticles and photons and 3.2.1.2 Stable and unstable nuclei. Topic: Particles and Radiation.

Key terms in this lesson

Strong nuclear force
The short-range attractive force between nucleons that overcomes the electrostatic repulsion between protons and holds the nucleus together, becoming repulsive at very short separations.
Weak nuclear force
The fundamental interaction responsible for beta decay, in which particles interact through the exchange of W bosons.
Quark
A fundamental particle that combines with other quarks to make up hadrons; at A-level, up, down and strange quarks are considered.

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