What Happens to Beta Particles in Empty Space?

AI Thread Summary
In an empty space, a beta particle, which is either an electron or a positron, would continue moving indefinitely unless it interacts with matter. Despite the misconception that beta particles have a short lifespan, they are actually stable with lifetimes vastly exceeding the age of the universe. The confusion arises from the decay of the parent nucleus that emits the beta particle, not the particle itself. Therefore, a beta particle would not decompose or decay in empty space; it would persist until it encounters something that absorbs it. The discussion emphasizes the stability of beta particles in the absence of matter.
hagopbul
Messages
397
Reaction score
45
If I have to send a beta particle in space and if the space is completely empty (from matter and energy just imagine!)
What would happen to the particle?
If I put a very good GM in 1 Km from the source should I detect the beta particle if the beta particle has the power of 0.5 Mev?
Dose the beta particle decomposition in the emptiness of the space and why (there is nothing in that space to absorb the beta particle.) should the beta particle just continue moving until it hits something that absorb it or not!
Sorry about my Q maybe it look like a naive Question :smile: but really believe me I never get a answer that make me rest.
thank you all
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Hi hagopbul !

Well, a beta particle is very stable, so - from good ol' Newton's first law - it should carry on for ever, or until it hits something! :smile:
 
NO wrong beta particle is not that stable and WILL decomposition in little time the Q is why?
 
hagopbul said:
NO wrong beta particle is not that stable and WILL decomposition in little time the Q is why?

No, a beta particle is either an electron or a positron, and both have mean lifetimes over a million billion times the present age of the universe! :smile:

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Particle_decay
 
No this is a electron and yes the life time of it is huge ,but in beta particle the life time is small and may main Q is not the time it is Why?
 
hagopbul said:
No this is a electron and yes the life time of it is huge ,but in beta particle the life time is small and may main Q is not the time it is Why?
Perhaps you are thinking of the half-life of whatever created the beta particle?
 
my mistake it is huge[age] but why it decomposition disappear ??
 
I don't understand - what do you mean about the decomposition disappearing? :confused:
 
  • #10
the beta particle decay after [t] time Why?
 
  • #11
It doesn't decay

hagopbul said:
the beta particle decay after [t] time Why?

It doesn't decay!

(Well, not for millions of billions of times longer than the age of the universe …)
 
  • #12
yes it decay the Q is why? I don't care about time
 

Similar threads

Can Geiger Counter Ticks be converted into particle/wave counts?
Replies
12
Views
2K
I Understanding crossing symmetry: inverse beta decay
Replies
4
Views
2K
I How Does Beta Decay Relate to the Role of W Bosons in Weak Nuclear Force?
Replies
4
Views
4K
A Green function issue: can bound. cond. be applied mode-wise?
Replies
1
Views
1K
What Happens to Beta Particles in Empty Space?
Replies
27
Views
6K
What Was the Initial Energy of a Positron Entering a Plastic Slab?
Replies
10
Views
3K
Could beta(-) emitters be used to build a compact light-space-drive?
Replies
16
Views
4K
I What happens when an explosion occurs on the surface of the moon?
Replies
5
Views
2K
A How to reduce an integral in phase space to a one-dimensional form?
Replies
3
Views
2K
B How do beta particles remove electrons?
Replies
7
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top