Beta particle
A beta particle is a high-energy electron or positron emitted from an atomic nucleus during radioactive decay, traveling at nearly the speed of light. This type of radiation is crucial in fields like nuclear medicine for imaging and treatment, but it also poses health risks due to its ability to penetrate skin and damage tissues if not shielded properly.
Did you know?
Beta particles, first identified by Ernest Rutherford in 1899, can penetrate up to several meters of air or a few millimeters of aluminum, yet they're commonly used in everyday devices like smoke detectors to ionize air and detect particles. This discovery paved the way for over 20,000 medical procedures annually that rely on beta emitters for cancer therapy, saving countless lives worldwide.
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