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RichyOwen
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Anyone able to explain Beta decay?
RichyOwen said:Anyone able to explain Beta decay?
RichyOwen said:Just realized I may have posted this in the wrong section, but would still like to know
Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay that occurs when an unstable atomic nucleus emits a beta particle, which can be either an electron or a positron. This process helps to stabilize the nucleus and reduce its energy.
Beta decay occurs when there is an imbalance between the number of protons and neutrons in an atomic nucleus. The nucleus can become more stable by either emitting a beta particle, converting a neutron to a proton, or converting a proton to a neutron.
There are three main types of beta decay: beta-minus decay, in which a neutron decays into a proton, emitting an electron and an antineutrino; beta-plus decay, in which a proton decays into a neutron, emitting a positron and a neutrino; and electron capture, in which an electron is captured by the nucleus, resulting in the emission of a neutrino.
Beta decay is an important process in nuclear reactions because it can change one element into another. For example, beta decay of uranium-238 results in the formation of thorium-234. This process is also used in nuclear power plants to control the rate of reaction and produce energy.
Beta decay has several applications in medicine, including diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy. In diagnostic imaging, radioactive isotopes that undergo beta decay are used as tracers to detect and diagnose certain medical conditions. In radiation therapy, beta particles are used to target and destroy cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.