Beta particle interaction with matter

[nilic1]

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.

 

[voko]

What would prevent a beta particle from passing through the palm of a hand?

 

[nilic1]

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.

 

[HallsofIvy]

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.

 

[HalfLostAndSearching]

I can explain the phenomenon of beta particles passing through the palm of a hand through the principles of quantum mechanics. Beta particles are considered to be a type of elementary particle, meaning they have no internal structure and are point-like in nature. This allows them to exhibit wave-like properties, such as diffraction and interference, in addition to their particle-like behavior.

In quantum mechanics, particles can exist in a state of superposition, meaning they can occupy multiple positions or states simultaneously. This is also known as the wave-particle duality of matter. In the case of beta particles, they have a very small mass and high energy, which allows them to exhibit this behavior.

When a beta particle approaches the palm of a hand, its wave-like nature allows it to pass through the spaces between the atoms and molecules of the hand, rather than colliding with them. This is similar to how light can pass through glass or water, as it is able to diffract and bend around the atoms in these materials.

Additionally, the probability of a beta particle interacting with matter is also dependent on its energy and the density of the material it is passing through. Higher energy beta particles are more likely to interact with matter, while lower energy ones are more likely to pass through without any interaction.

In summary, the ability of beta particles to pass through the palm of a hand is a result of their wave-particle duality and their small mass and high energy properties. This phenomenon is well understood and has been extensively studied in the field of quantum mechanics.