Can Beta-rays Travel Faster Than Light During Radioactive Decay?

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The discussion centers on the question of whether beta rays emitted during radioactive decay can exceed the speed of light when emitted from a moving source, such as a spaceship traveling close to light speed. It asserts that radioactive decay is a random process unaffected by external variables, and explores the implications of special relativity on the detection of beta radiation by stationary observers. Participants clarify that no matter the speed of the source, beta rays, which consist of electrons or positrons, will always travel at speeds less than the speed of light. They emphasize that the laws of physics remain consistent across all inertial frames, and experimental evidence supports that decay rates do not change based on the speed of the source. Ultimately, the consensus is that nothing can travel faster than light, including beta rays, regardless of the observer's frame of reference.
  • #31
elias2010 said:
George mentioned what I was trying to say.That one simple fact (detector's indication) occurs depending on where we put the frame.

Ah, I think there is confusion about the meaning of the word "frame" in relativity. It is used to mean a coordinate system, basically the "X" and "Y" and time axes of a hypothetical set of rulers and clocks which fill the universe (so that we can say where and when events happen) with the origin defined by some particle moving at less than c and without (usually) acceleration.

You appear to be using it in the sense of a physical object, a frame that you could put in different places.

Is that the source of confusion or have I misread your post?
 
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  • #32
elias2010 said:
George mentioned what I was trying to say.That one simple fact (detector's indication) occurs depending on where we put the frame.
This is not correct. The detectors indication depends on where you put the detector, not the frame.
 
  • #33


HallsofIvy said:
No one has said you cannot approach the speed- you just can't ever get there. And, no, the speed does not "prevent" decay of the nucleus. You are just using the wrong formula for combination of speeds. If an atom on a space ship, moving at, say, .9c relative to me, emits a beta ray moving at .9c relative to the atom, directly toward me, I would measure the beta ray as moving at
\frac{.9c+ .9c}{1+ \frac{(.9c)(.9c)}{c^2}}= \frac{1.8c}{1.81}= .99c
still less than the speed of light.

So if the ship speed is 0.9c and the speed of the radius b smaller than 0.99c, B does not detect the radiation. If the velocity of the particle b is less than 0.81c, does not detect either A.
Which of the two would happen if there was no Earth or other reference point to know the ship's speed? That is, whether the rings A or not, depends on the observer.
Look at the two cases:The reference frame is on the earth, or on the ship.
 
  • #34


elias2010 said:
So if the ship speed is 0.9c and the speed of the radius b smaller than 0.99c, B does not detect the radiation. If the velocity of the particle b is less than 0.81c, does not detect either A.
...That is, whether the rings A or not, depends on the observer.
This is incorrect. Please show your work so that we can show where you are making your mistake.
 
  • #35


DaleSpam said:
This is incorrect. Please show your work so that we can show where you are making your mistake.

You are right.I apologise for the trouble.
 

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