When this occurs, the electron shoots out of the atom and is called a beta particle, a type of radioactivity. |
The range of the phosphorus P32 beta particle, which has a maximum energy of 1.71 MeV, is 2.8 mm of aluminium. |
Next smaller in mass is the beta particle, which is identical in mass and charge to an electron. |
During this process the nucleus expels a negative beta particle as radiation. |
The emitted beta particle travels through air at close to the speed of light. |
Its existence was suggested to explain missing energy and angular momentum when a beta particle was emitted from a radioactive element. |