Beta particle interaction with matter

AI Thread Summary
Beta particles, which are fast-moving electrons emitted from atomic nuclei, can pass through human tissue, such as the palm of a hand, due to the atomic structure of matter. Atoms consist mostly of empty space, with a dense nucleus surrounded by a sparse cloud of electrons, allowing beta particles to navigate through without significant interaction. The limited interaction occurs because beta particles can pass by the electrons in atoms without colliding. This phenomenon relates to quantum physics, where the behavior of particles differs from classical expectations. Understanding this interaction highlights the nature of matter at the atomic level.
nilic1
Messages
39
Reaction score
0
A beta particle consists of a fast moving electron emitted from the nucleus of an atom. Beta particles can pass through the palm of a human hand.

My question is .. Being a particle how can it pass through the palm of a hand? I still haven't done quantum Physics but I suspect that it has something to do with it.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What would prevent a beta particle from passing through the palm of a hand?
 
voko said:
What would prevent a beta particle from passing through the palm of a hand?

my reasoning is that waves can make it through somehow ... but particles are stopped after colliding with other particles.
 
nilic1 said:
A beta particle consists of a fast moving electron emitted from the nucleus of an atom. Beta particles can pass through the palm of a human hand.

My question is .. Being a particle how can it pass through the palm of a hand? I still haven't done quantum Physics but I suspect that it has something to do with it.
Your hand is made of molecules that are made of atoms. And atoms are very small nuclei with a sparse cloud of electrons around it. Almost all of an atom, and so almost all of your hand is empty space.
 
  • Like
Likes 1 person
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'

Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'

In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanged mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanged mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Can Geiger Counter Ticks be converted into particle/wave counts?
Replies
12
Views
2K
Beta Spectroscopy: Decay Path of Na 22 and Sr 90 | Experimental Setup & Results
Replies
1
Views
2K
Electrons and their little role in nuclear physics
Replies
1
Views
2K
A Beta Decay, why did they have to resort to Neutrinos?
Replies
32
Views
4K
I How Does Beta Decay Relate to the Role of W Bosons in Weak Nuclear Force?
Replies
4
Views
4K
Energy Loss in Plastic Scintillator
Replies
8
Views
2K
Speed and Momentum of a Beta Particle
Replies
1
Views
6K
A Number of particles in canonical ensemble
Replies
9
Views
2K
B Absorption of beta particles by lead
Replies
5
Views
3K
B Are real theories undiscoverable from effective field theories?
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top