beta particle
Sign in to savehigh-energy, high-speed electron or positron emitted during beta decay
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A beta particle is a high-speed electron or positron released when certain unstable atoms break down in a process called beta decay. Understanding beta particles matters because they help scientists study radioactive materials and are used in medical applications like PET scans for detecting diseases.
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Article
Alpha radiation consists of helium nuclei and is readily stopped by a sheet of paper. Beta radiation, consisting of electrons or positrons, is stopped by a thin aluminium plate, but gamma radiation requires shielding by dense material such as lead or concrete.
A beta particle, also called beta ray or beta radiation (symbol β), is a high-energy, high-speed electron or positron emitted by the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus, known as beta decay. There are two forms of beta decay, β decay and β decay, which produce electrons and positrons, respectively.