What is alpha beta decay?
What is alpha beta decay?
Alpha decay – A common mode of radioactive decay in which a nucleus emits an alpha particle (a helium-4 nucleus). Beta decay – A common mode of radioactive decay in which a nucleus emits beta particles. The daughter nucleus will have a higher atomic number than the original nucleus.
What is beta decay GCSE?
Beta decay involves the conversion of a down quark to an up quark. This changes a neutron into a proton plus an electron. The proton stays in the nucleus and the electron leaves the atom with high energy – we call it a beta particle.
What is alpha decay GCSE physics?
Alpha decay causes the mass number of the nucleus to decrease by four and the atomic number of the nucleus to decrease by two.
What is decay GCSE physics?
Nuclear decay refers to the changes in unstable isotopes as they change to other more stable isotopes with the release of particles and energy in the form of radiation. Beta decay happens to small nuclei with an unstable ratio of neutrons to protons.
What is the process of alpha decay?
Alpha decay is a nuclear decay process where an unstable nucleus changes to another element by shooting out a particle composed of two protons and two neutrons. This ejected particle is known as an alpha particle and is simply a helium nucleus. Alpha particles have a relatively large mass and a positive charge.
What is the main difference between alpha decay and beta decay?
Alpha decay forms new element with two fewer protons and two fewer neutrons; Beta decay forms new element with one more proton and one fewer neutron. Gamma decay forms NO new element, but now the element has less energy because energy is released as gamma rays.
What happens during alpha decay GCSE?
What is an alpha decay equation?
Alpha Decay Equation In α-decay, the mass number of the product nucleus (daughter nucleus) is four less than that of the decaying nucleus (parent nucleus), while the atomic number decreases by two. In general, the alpha decay equation is represented as follows: Z A X → Z − 2 A − 4 Y + 2 4 He.
What is the process of beta decay?
Beta decay occurs when, in a nucleus with too many protons or too many neutrons, one of the protons or neutrons is transformed into the other. In beta minus decay, a neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino: n Æ p + e – +.