There Are 3 Main Types Of Radioactive Decay
Fact of the day: There are 3 main types of radioactive decay, α (alpha), β (beta), γ (gamma).
Radioactive decay is the decay of an atomic nucleus to become another element. For example, Uranium-328 decays via α decay into Thorium-234.
The weak nuclear force is the weakest of the four fundamental forces. The weak nuclear force is mainly responsible for breaking things apart than holding things together. This force is responsible for β decay.
β decay is when in an unstable atomic nucleus, a neutron changes one of its down quarks into an up quark (making a proton), and then emits a W- boson. The W- boson then decays into an electron and an electron antineutrino.
(above) This is a Feynman diagram of β decay, with the neutron (n) changing one of its quarks from an up quark (u) to a down quark (d) creating a proton (p). In the process a W- (W-) boson is emitted, which then decays into an electron antineutrino (νe*) and an electron (e-).
The weak nuclear force is carried by W- bosons, W+ bosons, and the Z bosons. These particles have incredibly large mass, even though they do not make up matter. The W bosons have over 100 times more mass than a proton, having more mass than a iron atom.
*I have not found a way to format the 'e' from the electron antineutrino symbol so it is below the' v' in the same line of text.
Radioactive decay is the decay of an atomic nucleus to become another element. For example, Uranium-328 decays via α decay into Thorium-234.
The weak nuclear force is the weakest of the four fundamental forces. The weak nuclear force is mainly responsible for breaking things apart than holding things together. This force is responsible for β decay.
β decay is when in an unstable atomic nucleus, a neutron changes one of its down quarks into an up quark (making a proton), and then emits a W- boson. The W- boson then decays into an electron and an electron antineutrino.
(above) This is a Feynman diagram of β decay, with the neutron (n) changing one of its quarks from an up quark (u) to a down quark (d) creating a proton (p). In the process a W- (W-) boson is emitted, which then decays into an electron antineutrino (νe*) and an electron (e-).
The weak nuclear force is carried by W- bosons, W+ bosons, and the Z bosons. These particles have incredibly large mass, even though they do not make up matter. The W bosons have over 100 times more mass than a proton, having more mass than a iron atom.
*I have not found a way to format the 'e' from the electron antineutrino symbol so it is below the' v' in the same line of text.
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