2006-08-05 04:35:27 · 8 answers · asked by siram v 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Beta rays are not really rays, but electrons (particles). They were called rays because the initial thought was they were really electromagnetic radiation. That was until it was proven that beta ray were in fact electrons.
Electrons come from the nucleus by this process because the whole process involves changing a neutron to a proton. Neutrons are slightly larger than protons (by about 3 electron masses), and have no electric charge. Protons have positive charges.
Neutrons are unstable outside the nucleus and in very large nuclei. This would result to the neutron transforming itself into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino. (antineutrinos have no charge are taken to be massless, so for easy explanation, we can disregard the antineutrino for the moment)
Since neutrons transform into protons in beta decay, the mass has been effectively reduced by the process. Furthermore, the total nuclear charge also changed by 1 electron charge (positive). The "missing" mass and (negative) charge should go somewhere. The charge and 1 electron mass is in the form of the electron itself.
The "missing" 2 electron masses is in the form of energy in the nucleus and the electron. Since electrons do not belong in the nucleus, it will be spit out, taking some of the excess energy with it. The rest of the excess energy is then released in the form of gamma rays and the antineutrino.
2006-08-05 06:39:59 · answer #1 · answered by dennis_d_wurm 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, they don't. The radiation rays don't come only from the nucleus. I'm sure you know that you know are electrons in every atom, which are circling around the nucleus. So when the atom is disintegrated the beta ray comes from the electrons around the nucleus, the alpha is formed from the outcoming protons and the gama from the neutrons(also in the nucleus).
That above is the better but the harder to understand way of explanation. Hope there are more people who can explain that well!!! Bravo, gmack!
2006-08-05 11:50:30 · answer #2 · answered by spokoman_goliath 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first off, there is no such thing as a beta ray - its a beta particle. and to answer your question, there are two types of beta decay, beta + and beta -, in a beta + decay a proton decays into a neutron and emits a positron (and a neutrino) whilst in beta - a neutron decays into a proton and emits an electron (and a neutrino) these positrons/electrons are the beta +/- particles
2006-08-05 11:45:21 · answer #3 · answered by gmack 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
gmack is right.
By radioactive decay, the total electrical charge must be the same after as before. If a neutron (zero charge) decays into an electron (charge -1) and a proton, (charge +1), this is true. Also if a proton decays into a neutron and a positron (charge +1).
2006-08-05 12:00:53 · answer #4 · answered by helene_thygesen 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When neutron undergoes decompition . it is converted into proton and electron is coming out from the nucleus
2006-08-05 12:35:33 · answer #5 · answered by atulmshah2004 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
beta rays are not electrons.
they are electromagnetic waves like photons.
it looks like energy.
nucleus has energy so it can emission beta ray.
2006-08-05 12:03:34 · answer #6 · answered by zahedikhoozani 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
atulmshah2004 is right. Electrons are a product of neutron decay.
2006-08-05 12:43:04 · answer #7 · answered by genericman1998 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they don't!!!!
2006-08-05 12:55:30 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋