Beta Decay

A beta particle is a fast moving electron which has been emitted from a decaying nucleus.

Inside the nucleus a neutron has changed into a proton and a negative beta particle which escapes. There is also another particle (or rather antiparticle) called an antineutrino produced that we will learn more about in the next module.

Beta particles have similar energies to alpha particles but because there are 3 particles involved in this decay we cannot predict how much of the energy the beta will get so they are emitted with a range of energies, not all with the same energy as in the case of alpha.

The beta particle causes a few thousand ionisations, like the alpha, until it runs out of kinetic energy and is absorbed by a positive ion.

Here is a summary of the properties of beta particles

so what happens inside the nucleus during beta decay?