answersLogoWhite

0

An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, consisting of 2 protons and 2 neutrons. Beta particles are fast moving electrons that are emitted from a nucleus when a neutron decays into a proton and an electron.

Since 1 electron has 1/1837 the mass of a proton, the alpha particle is roughly 7348 times the mass of the electron.

User Avatar

Wiki User

15y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Why does it take stronger magnetic fields to move the beam of alpha particles compared to beta particles?

Because the charge on an alpha particle is 2 times stonger then on a beta particle, however, it the alpha particle is 7,350 times more massive (so it takes more force to move it the same distance).


Are alpha particles or beta particles more highly charged?

An alpha particle has a charge of +2 (elementary charges). A beta particle has a charge of -1 (electron) or +1 (positron).An alpha particle has a charge of +2 (elementary charges). A beta particle has a charge of -1 (electron) or +1 (positron).An alpha particle has a charge of +2 (elementary charges). A beta particle has a charge of -1 (electron) or +1 (positron).An alpha particle has a charge of +2 (elementary charges). A beta particle has a charge of -1 (electron) or +1 (positron).


What are two ways that an alpha particle is different from the electron beta-decay particle?

A alpha particle is a helium-4, written 24He, nucleus, and it is composed of a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons fused together. It's charge is +2. A beta particle could be either a beta + particle, which is a positron, or a beta - particle, which is an electron. The electron (beta -) has a charge of -1, and the positron (beta +) has a charge of +1. In summary, the alpha is +2, the beta minus is -1, and the beta plus is +1.


A beta particle differs from an alpha particle in that it?

A beta particle is an electron or a positron, with a charge of -1 or +1, and a mass of about 1/1836 of a proton. An alpha particle, on the other hand is a helium nucleus, with a charge of +2, and a mass of two protons and two neutrons. The beta particle has more penetration ability than the alpha particle, but the alpha particle is more biologically dangerous when in close proximity to sensitive tissue, such as when inhaled into the lungs.


Why are alpha particle tracks observed in a cloud chamber much shorter than beta particle tracks though they emerge from a radioactive sample with almost the same speed?

Alpha particles have a mass of about 4 and a charge of +2, while beta particles have a mass of about 5x10-4 and a charge of -1. As such, the alpha particle interacts much more easily than the beta particle, and spends its energy more quickly.

Related Questions

Which has the largest mass alpha particle gamma ray positron or beta particle?

The alpha particle is much more massive than a beta particle. A beta particle is an electron, which has very little mass. An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, and consists of two protons and two neutrons.


Why do alpha particle have higher ionizaion energy than beta particle?

Alpha particles are larger and carry twice the charge of beta particles. As a result, alpha particles interact more strongly with atoms, leading to higher ionization energy. Moreover, due to their larger mass, alpha particles have a shorter range in matter and deposit more energy per unit distance, increasing their ionization potential.


How do the mass and size of an alpha particle compare with mass and size of beta particle?

The mass and size of an alpha particle compare with the masa and size of beta particle in the sense that the alpha particle is significantly larger in both size and mass that the beta and gamma particles. This is why it is called the alpha particle.


Why does it take stronger magnetic fields to move the beam of alpha particles compared to beta particles?

Because the charge on an alpha particle is 2 times stonger then on a beta particle, however, it the alpha particle is 7,350 times more massive (so it takes more force to move it the same distance).


Are alpha particles or beta particles more highly charged?

An alpha particle has a charge of +2 (elementary charges). A beta particle has a charge of -1 (electron) or +1 (positron).An alpha particle has a charge of +2 (elementary charges). A beta particle has a charge of -1 (electron) or +1 (positron).An alpha particle has a charge of +2 (elementary charges). A beta particle has a charge of -1 (electron) or +1 (positron).An alpha particle has a charge of +2 (elementary charges). A beta particle has a charge of -1 (electron) or +1 (positron).


What are two ways that an alpha particle is different from the electron beta-decay particle?

A alpha particle is a helium-4, written 24He, nucleus, and it is composed of a pair of protons and a pair of neutrons fused together. It's charge is +2. A beta particle could be either a beta + particle, which is a positron, or a beta - particle, which is an electron. The electron (beta -) has a charge of -1, and the positron (beta +) has a charge of +1. In summary, the alpha is +2, the beta minus is -1, and the beta plus is +1.


A beta particle differs from an alpha particle in that it?

A beta particle is an electron or a positron, with a charge of -1 or +1, and a mass of about 1/1836 of a proton. An alpha particle, on the other hand is a helium nucleus, with a charge of +2, and a mass of two protons and two neutrons. The beta particle has more penetration ability than the alpha particle, but the alpha particle is more biologically dangerous when in close proximity to sensitive tissue, such as when inhaled into the lungs.


Why are alpha and beta rays deflected in opposite directions in a magnetic field?

An alpha particle, which is a 24He nucleus, has a mass of 4 and a charge of +2. A beta particle has a charge of +1 or -1, depending on whether it is a positron (beta +) or an electron (beta -). It's mass is minuscule compared to the alpha particle, and it will undergo a comparatively huge deflection in the same field as an alpha particle would. Though the alpha particle has twice the charge as a beta particle, it has several thousand times the mass of that beta particle. As it is so much more massive than the beta particle, its inertia will be much more difficult to overcome even though it has twice the charge.


Is it true or false beta particle will penetrate deeper into materials than an alpha particle?

False. Alpha particles have a larger mass and charge compared to beta particles, which causes them to interact more strongly with materials. As a result, alpha particles penetrate less deeply into materials compared to beta particles.


Why are alpha particle tracks observed in a cloud chamber much shorter than beta particle tracks though they emerge from a radioactive sample with almost the same speed?

Alpha particles have a mass of about 4 and a charge of +2, while beta particles have a mass of about 5x10-4 and a charge of -1. As such, the alpha particle interacts much more easily than the beta particle, and spends its energy more quickly.


Does alpha particles have less mass the beta particles?

An alpha particle is two protons and two neutrons (same as a Helium nucleus) so when a nucleus ejects an alpha it will defintely have less mass. Also it will be a new element because it has two less protons.


Why does the path of the beta particles bend more than the path of the alpha particles?

Beta particles (electrons) are less massive than alpha particles (Helium-4 nuclei), by a factor of approximately 8000.