• An electron neutrino is a type of subatomic particle with no charge and negligible mass which is also emitted from the nucleus
• The anti-neutrino is the antiparticle of a neutrino
  • Electron anti-neutrinos are produced during β– decay
  • Electron neutrinos are produced during β+ decay

• When the number of α particles is plotted against kinetic energy, there are clear spikes that appear on the graph
• This demonstrates that?α-particles have discrete energies?(only certain values)

Alpha particles have discrete energy levels whilst beta particles have a continuous range of energies

• When the number of β particles is plotted against kinetic energy, the graph shows a curve
• This demonstrates that?beta particles (electrons or positrons) have a continuous range of energies
• This is because the energy released in beta decay is shared between the?beta particles?(electrons or positrons) and?neutrinos?(or anti-neutrinos)
• This was one of the first clues of the neutrino’s existence
• The principle of conservation of momentum and energy applies in both alpha and beta emission

Alpha Decay

• Alpha decay is common in large, unstable nuclei with too many protons
• The decay involves a nucleus emitting an alpha particle and decaying into a different nucleus
• An alpha particle consists of?2 protons and 2 neutrons?(the nucleus of a Helium atom)

Alpha decay produces a daughter nucleus and an alpha particle (helium nucleus)

• When an unstable nucleus (the parent nucleus) emits radiation, the constitution of its nucleus changes
• As a result, the isotope will change into a different element (the daughter nucleus)
• Alpha decay can be represented by the following radioactive decay equation:

Alpha decay equation

• When an alpha particle is emitted from a nucleus:
  • The nucleus loses 2 protons:?proton number decreases by 2
  • The nucleus loses 4 nucleons:?nucleon number decreases by 4

ANSWER: C

β^-?decay

• A β^-?particle is a high energy electron emitted from the nucleus
• β^-?decay is when a?neutron turns into a proton emitting an electron and an anti-electron neutrino

• When a β^-?is emitted from a nucleus:
  • The number of protons increases by 1:?proton number increases by 1
  • The total number of nucleons stays the same:?nucleon number remains the same

Equation for beta minus emission

• The new nucleus formed from the decay is called the “daughter” nucleus (nitrogen in the example above)

β⁺?decay

• A β^+?particle is a high energy positron emitted from the nucleus
• β^+?decay is when a?proton turns into a neutron emitting a positron (anti-electron) and an electron neutrino

• When a β⁺?is emitted from a nucleus:
  • The number of protons decreases by 1:?proton number decreases by 1
  • The total number of nucleons stays the same:?nucleon number remains the same

Equation for beta plus emission

ANSWER: A