beta particle
1
6.4
- noun
- /ˈbeɪtə ˈpɑrtɪkl/
- Specialized
:
partícula beta
- Alpha particles, helium nuclei leave short thick tracks, while beta particles, electrons leave long skinny trails.
- emit beta particles
Examples
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Many radioisotopes emit beta particles.
Academic text (2012) -
It turns out that the beta particles emitted by 90Sr and 90Y were energetic enough to displace atoms in a crystalline solid.
Academic text (2012) -
Alpha and beta particles, because of their low penetrating power, are stopped by most surfaces, even a soldier's skin.
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On the other hand, beta particles typically have energies of tens to hundreds of keV, depending on the radioisotope.
Academic text (2012) -
Its weak beta particles cannot penetrate a thin sheet of paper or travel more than 5 mm in air (although they can still generate hundreds of electron-hole pairs in a typical semiconductor).
Academic text (2012) -
The ARSA is designed to detect photons and beta particles that are the signature of radioactive xenon, which is a telltale element produced by underground nuclear explosions.
Academic text (2000) -
During radioactive decay, a beta particle is emitted, transforming the original atom into a different element.
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When nuclear reactions occur, beta particles are often released, showing high-speed movement.
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Detection of beta particles helps scientists study the properties of various radioactive materials.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is compositionally interpretable — a learner who knows 'beta' and 'particle' can infer it denotes some small particle labeled 'beta' and therefore get a general sense. However, the specific technical sense (a high-speed electron or positron emitted during radioactive decay) requires domain knowledge of radiation physics and the conventional use of 'beta' for that emission, so the exact meaning is not fully predictable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Beta particle comes from early experiments when scientists found a second kind of ray and named it beta after the Greek letter for 'second', and they called the tiny moving electron a particle. That's why today beta particle means a small, fast electron that comes out when a radioactive atom changes.