beta particle
noun
: a high-speed electron
specifically
: one emitted by a radioactive nucleus in beta decay
Examples of beta particle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The decay of the radioisotope produces high-energy beta particles that ionize the electrolyte, creating a potential difference between the anode and cathode immersed in the solution and driving electron flow through an external circuit to produce electricity.
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IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025
The magic in this battery is the material carbon-14, a radioactive isotope that emits beta particles.
—Joe Salas, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2025
This stands in stark contrast to beta particles, which can traverse millimeters of tissue before their energy is depleted.
—Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024
Alpha particles are just the nuclei of helium atoms, beta particles are electrons, and gamma rays are a type of very high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024
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IEEE Spectrum, 25 Aug. 2025
The magic in this battery is the material carbon-14, a radioactive isotope that emits beta particles.
—Joe Salas, New Atlas, 26 Mar. 2025
This stands in stark contrast to beta particles, which can traverse millimeters of tissue before their energy is depleted.
—Discover Magazine, 8 July 2024
Alpha particles are just the nuclei of helium atoms, beta particles are electrons, and gamma rays are a type of very high-frequency electromagnetic radiation.
—Rhett Allain, WIRED, 23 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Beta particle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beta%20particle. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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