Beta particles are characterized as which of the following?

Beta particles are characterized as which of the following?

• A. Negatively charged, slow moving particles.
• B. Faster and more penetrating than alpha particles.
• C. Neutral particles that do not ionize.
• D. Uncharged photons that travel at speed of light.

Answer: (B)

Beta radiation consists of fast, charged particles emitted from the nucleus—electrons or positrons. Because they have a very small mass, they can reach high speeds, often much faster than alpha particles. That speed, combined with their charge, lets them penetrate more material than alpha particles, though they don’t reach the penetrating power of uncharged gamma photons. So describing beta particles as faster and more penetrating than alpha particles matches their typical behavior. The other descriptions don’t fit: beta particles are charged and ionize as they pass through matter, they’re not neutral, and they’re not photons traveling at the speed of light.

Beta radiation consists of fast, charged particles emitted from the nucleus—electrons or positrons. Because they have a very small mass, they can reach high speeds, often much faster than alpha particles. That speed, combined with their charge, lets them penetrate more material than alpha particles, though they don’t reach the penetrating power of uncharged gamma photons. So describing beta particles as faster and more penetrating than alpha particles matches their typical behavior. The other descriptions don’t fit: beta particles are charged and ionize as they pass through matter, they’re not neutral, and they’re not photons traveling at the speed of light.