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Radiation - b-particles.
A b-particle
(beta particle) is the same
as an electron.
It is often called a high energy electron because it is very fast moving.
A b-particle comes from the nucleus of an atom!
It has a charge of -1 and very little
mass (only 1 ÷
1840 as
big as a proton).
The e shows that the particle is an electron.
It is given a mass number of zero because the mass
is very small
compared to a proton or a neutron.
A b-particle has less
mass than an a-particle but more mass than a
g-ray.
b-particles have
more penetrating ability than a-particles
but may be absorbed by a few
millimetres of aluminium.
b-particles are less
ionising than
a-particles
but more ionising than g-rays
(see the three types of
radiation).
b-particles may be
emitted during the decay of either big
or small nuclei.
(see examples).
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Copyright © 2008 Dr. Colin France. All Rights Reserved.