What is difference between beta particle and an electron?

Answer 1

An electron is the basic carrier of the negative electrostatic charge. It has an anti-matter equivalent (an anti-particle) called the positron. Either an electron or positron can be a beta particle. The reason is that beta decay releases a beta particle, and the type of particle will depend on the type of decay. In beta minus decay, the change in an atomic nucleus will release an electron, and in beta plus decay, the nuclear change will release a positron. Use the link below to learn more about beta decay.

Answer 2

• alpha particles are helium nuclei
• protons are hydrogen nuclei

• alpha particles have a mass of 4 amu and a charge of +2
• protons have a mass of 1 amu and a charge of +1

• each alpha particle is composed of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
• each proton is composed of 1 proton

etc.

Answer 3

An Alpha particle is a bare helium nuclei (two protons, two neutrons), with a positive charge. They are relatively big and heavy, and relatively slow moving. They do not penetrate far into materials; a few feet of air stops them.

A Beta particle is a charged electron (-e), or positron (+p). They start out moving much faster and are a lot smaller than alpha particles. They penetrate moderately into skin, but even a thin metal foil stops them.

Answer 4

A beta particle is an electron. Scientifically they are the same thing. However the words beta particle and electron are used in different contexts. The term beta particle aroses in nuclear physics. Early research established three forms of radioactive decay and labelled the emissions from these decays alpha, beta and gamma. The enigmatic beta particles were shown to have negative charge before it was realised that they were electrons formed from a nuclear decay process. The term electron arose seperately, from the study of chemistry and spectroscopy. In these fields it was recognised that an atom could gain or lose an electron which led to the emission of light at very specific wavelengths.

Answer 5

Electrons are particles orbiting the nucleus. beta particles are given out by the nucleus when you split a neutron to form a proton and a beta particle. It has more energy and is the result of radioactive decay

Answer 6

Beta radiation is a negatively charged electron which both penetrates and ionizes fairly well. Alpha is a helium nucleus with 2 protons and 2 neutrons (so a +2 charge) and is very ionizing but not very penetrating.

Answer 7

An alpha particle is a positively charged particle composed of two protons and two neutrons. Beta particles are emitted from nuclei undergoing radioactive decay, and are either electrons with a negative charge, or positrons with a positive charge.

Answer 8

In terms of different types of radiation emissions, and alpha particle is a pairing of two protons and two neutrons (a helium nucleus), a beta particle is a single electron.

Answer 9

Both alpha and beta particles have charge.

Answer 10

alpha is a heavy particle not very penetrating radiation. Gamma is a ray not a particle and is very highly penetrating.