Exam-style question
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What charge does beta radiation carry?.
- A.Positive charge
- B.Negative charge
- C.No charge
- D.Variable charge
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Negative charge
Explanation
Why this works
Beta radiation is defined as consisting of electrons (beta-minus) or positrons (beta-plus), where beta-minus carries a negative charge. The key difference is that alpha radiation is positively charged, while gamma radiation has no charge.
Beta radiation occurs in processes where a neutron is converted into a proton, emitting an electron. This type of radiation is significant in nuclear decay processes involving lighter nuclei.
Thus, beta radiation is characterized by its negative charge.
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