beta particle
noun
: a high-speed electron
specifically
: one emitted by a radioactive nucleus in beta decay
Examples of beta particle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Compared to beta particles, alpha particles are larger and more energetic.
—
Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024
This stands in stark contrast to beta particles, which can traverse millimeters of tissue before their energy is depleted.
—Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024
The most common forms occur when an unstable nucleus spits out an alpha particle, consisting of two neutrons and two protons, a beta particle consisting of an energetic positron or electron, or a gamma ray, consisting of a high energy photon.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
Alpha particles are just the nuclei of helium atoms, beta particles are electrons, and gamma rays are a type of very high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024
Instead, radioactive elements can emit gamma rays, alongside alpha and beta particles.
—WIRED, 23 Sep. 2023
The mass of an alpha particle is more than 7,000 times larger than that of a beta particle.
—WIRED, 8 Sep. 2023
And the radiation comes in the form of beta particles.
—Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 3 May 2023
In contrast, Convergent plans to use a protein in the immune system called antibodies to deliver radiation-emitting particles, and the radiation comes in the form of alpha particles, which Kantoff says are 1,000 times more powerful than beta particles.
—Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 3 May 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024
This stands in stark contrast to beta particles, which can traverse millimeters of tissue before their energy is depleted.
—Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024
The most common forms occur when an unstable nucleus spits out an alpha particle, consisting of two neutrons and two protons, a beta particle consisting of an energetic positron or electron, or a gamma ray, consisting of a high energy photon.
—The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 27 Feb. 2024
Alpha particles are just the nuclei of helium atoms, beta particles are electrons, and gamma rays are a type of very high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024
Instead, radioactive elements can emit gamma rays, alongside alpha and beta particles.
—WIRED, 23 Sep. 2023
The mass of an alpha particle is more than 7,000 times larger than that of a beta particle.
—WIRED, 8 Sep. 2023
And the radiation comes in the form of beta particles.
—Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 3 May 2023
In contrast, Convergent plans to use a protein in the immune system called antibodies to deliver radiation-emitting particles, and the radiation comes in the form of alpha particles, which Kantoff says are 1,000 times more powerful than beta particles.
—Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 3 May 2023
Dictionary Entries Near beta particle
Cite this Entry
“Beta particle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beta%20particle. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share