wil3 said:Hello. Say that I were to take a beta emitting radioactive substance, crush it up, and apply it to a copper plate. Is there a way for me to predict the electrical potential and/or current on the plate (due to the emitted electrons) based on known data, such as radiation level of the substance, plate geometry, substance density, etc?
Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a nucleus emits a beta particle (an electron or positron) to become more stable.
Beta decay occurs when an unstable nucleus has too many or too few neutrons compared to protons, causing it to emit a beta particle in order to achieve a more stable ratio.
Beta- decay occurs when a nucleus emits an electron, while beta+ decay occurs when a nucleus emits a positron (a positively charged electron). They both result in a more stable nucleus, but with a different number of protons and neutrons.
Electron emission potential is the amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom. In beta decay, this potential is released as the electron (or positron) is emitted from the nucleus.
Beta decay is used in various applications, such as in nuclear power plants to generate electricity, in medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases, and in carbon dating to determine the age of artifacts and fossils.