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:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782945695/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782945695&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=ceafcc80bcad6b6754ee97a0c7ceea53 ''Beta radiation, pages 197, 198, 200, Gateway GCSE Combined Science; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR '']
:[https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1782945687/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1782945687&linkCode=as2&tag=nrjc-21&linkId=9a598e52189317a20311d7a632747bc9 ''Beta radiation, pages 74-76, 78, 79, Gateway GCSE Physics; The Revision Guide, CGP, OCR '']
==Key Stage 4==
===Meaning===
An '''beta particle''' ('''β-particle''') is a type of [[Ionising Radiation|ionising radiation]] made of an [[electron]] [[emit]]ted from the [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] of an [[Unstable Isotope|unstable isotope]] when a [[neutron]] turns into a [[proton]].
===About Beta Particles===
: '''Beta particles''' may also be referred to as '''beta radiation''' and is written with the symbol '''β'''.
: '''Beta particles''' are a fast moving [[electron]] [[emit]]ted from the [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] of an [[Unstable Isotope|unstable isotope]].
: '''Beta particles''' have a [[Relative Atomic Mass|relative atomic mass]] of 1/1840 (which is so much smaller than a [[nucleon]] that it is usually referred to as 0) and [[Relative Atomic Charge|relative charge]] of -1.
: '''Beta particles''' are [[emit]]ted when a [[Atomic Nucleus|nucleus]] is too large or the [[ratio]] of [[neutron]]s to [[proton]]s is too large (too many [[neutron]]s).
====Charge and Mass====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:BetaParticleCharge.png|center|200px]]
| style="height:20px; width:400px; text-align:left;" |Scientist were able to determine the [[Electrical Charge|charge]] and [[mass]] of a [[Beta Particle|β-particle]] by sending it between two [[Electrical Charge|electrically charged]] plates and observing its path.
The '''β-particle''' moves towards the [[Positive Charge|positive]] plate, so it must be [[Positive Charge|positively charged]]. The rate of curvature depends on the [[mass]]:[[Electrical Charge|charge]] [[ratio]] which indicates it has a [[Relative Atomic Mass|relative atomic mass]] of 1/1840 and [[Relative Atomic Charge|relative charge]] of -1.
|}
====Penetration Depth====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:BetaPenetrationAir.png|center|200px]]
| style="height:20px; width:400px; text-align:left;" |[[Beta Particle|Beta particles]] can travel several [[metre]]s through [[air]] ([[STP]]) before [[colliding]] with and [[ionising]] [[atom]]s or [[molecule]]s.
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:BetaPenetration.png|center|200px]]
| style="height:20px; width:400px; text-align:left;" |[[Beta Particle|Beta particles]] can penetrate paper but are stopped by around 5mm thickness of [[metal]] foil.
|}
====Ionising Potential====
: With a [[Electrical Charge|charge]] of -1, '''β-particles''' are the second most [[Ionising Radiation|ionising]] of the three [[Ionising Radiation|ionising radiations]]. It is capable of knocking out more than one [[electron]] from different [[atom]]s or [[molecule]]s as it has a large amount of [[Kinetic Energy Store|kinetic energy]].
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:BetaIonise.png|center|600px]]
|-
| style="height:20px; width:600px; text-align:left;" |When a [[Beta Particle|beta particle]] interacts with an [[atom]] the [[Beta Particle|beta minus particle]] can pass on some of its [[Kinetic Energy Store|kinetic energy]] to an [[electron]] in the [[Outer Shell|outer shell]] causing the [[electron]] to escape '''ionising''' the [[atom]]. This may happen more than once if the [[Beta Particle|beta particle]] [[collide]]s with another [[atom]] with enough [[energy]].
|}
===Precautions===
: [[Beta Particle|Beta radiation]] is the second most [[Ionising Radiation|ionising]] and the second most [[Penetration Depth|penetrating]].
: [[Beta Particle|Beta]] sources are kept inside a block of [[lead]] with a hole that only allows the [[Beta Particle|beta particles]] out in one direction.
: Outside the body an [[organism]] cannot easily be protected from [[Beta Particle|beta radiation]] as it travels several [[metre]]s through the [[air]] and needs a [[metal]] barrier to block it. [[Beta Particle|beta radiation]] can pass through the [[skin]] and [[Ionising Radiation|ionise]] [[tissue]] deep within the body.
: When handling a source of [[Beta Particle|beta radiation]] the precautions which should be taken are:
:*Wear gloves - to prevent [[Radioactive Contamination|contamination]].
:*Use tongs to handle the source, never touch it - to prevent [[Radioactive Contamination|contamination]] and reduce [[irradiation]] (the tongs won't be long enough to prevent [[irradiation]].)
:*Stand behind a [[metal]] screen - to prevent [[irradiation]].
:*Aim the source away from any living [[organism]] - to prevent [[irradiation]].
:*Store the source in a sealed container - to prevent [[Radioactive Contamination|contamination]] and [[irradiation]].
===Applications===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:BetaApplication1.png|center|600px]]
|-
| style="height:20px; width:600px; text-align:left;" |[[Beta Particle|Beta particles]] can be used to detect the thickness of a [[material]]. The thicker the [[material]] the less [[Beta Particle|Beta particles]] will make it to the detector.
When manufacturing sheets of [[material]] a [[Beta Particle|beta]] source and detector can be used to control the separation of a pair of rollers. When the [[material]] becomes too thick the rollers move closer together, squashing the [[material]]. When the [[material]] becomes to thin the rollers move further apart to squash the [[material]] less.
|}
===Equation===
<math>{}_Z^AX \rightarrow {}_{Z+1}^{A}Y + {}_{-1}^0\beta+\nu</math>
<math>{}_{28}^{65}Ni \rightarrow {}_{29}^{65}Cu + {}_{-1}^0\beta+\nu</math>
====Example Calculations====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |'''Find the [[element]] 'X' and calculate its [[Relative Atomic Mass|relative atomic mass]] 'A' and its [[Relative Atomic Charge|relative atomic charge]] 'Z'.'''
<math>{}_{7}^{13}N \rightarrow {}_{Z}^{A}X + {}_{-1}^0\beta</math>
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:center;" |'''Find the [[element]] 'X' and calculate its [[Relative Atomic Mass|relative atomic mass]] 'A' and its [[Relative Atomic Charge|relative atomic charge]] 'Z'.'''
<math>{}_{Z}^{A}X \rightarrow {}_{48}^{111}Cd + {}_{-1}^0\beta</math>
|-
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''1. Calculate the [[Relative Atomic Mass|relative atomic mass]] by looking at the top row of numbers.'''
13 = A + 0
A = 13
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''1. Calculate the [[Relative Atomic Mass|relative atomic mass]] by looking at the top row of numbers.'''
A = 111 + 0
A = 111
|-
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''2. Calculate the [[Relative Atomic Charge|relative atomic charge]] by looking at the bottom row of numbers.'''
7 = Z - 1
Z = 8
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''2. Calculate the [[Relative Atomic Charge|relative atomic charge]] by looking at the bottom row of numbers.'''
Z = 48 - 1
Z = 47
|-
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''3. Since the [[Relative Atomic Charge|relative atomic charge]] is the same as the [[Atomic Number|atomic number]] look up the [[element]] on the [[Periodic Table|periodic table]].'''
<math>{}_{8}^{13}O</math>
| style="height:20px; width:300px; text-align:left;" |'''3. Since the [[Relative Atomic Charge|relative atomic charge]] is the same as the [[Atomic Number|atomic number]] look up the [[element]] on the [[Periodic Table|periodic table]].'''
<math>{}_{47}^{111}Ag</math>
|}