specifically: one emitted by a radioactive nucleus in beta decay
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe scientific reality is tritium emits an incredibly weak beta particle that is easily stopped by our dead skin layer. James Conca, Forbes, 12 Apr. 2021 The fourth decay can occur by two different routes, with each path releasing one alpha particle and one beta particle before reaching lead-209. Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, 1 Feb. 2020 Of course the frisker was measuring gamma waves in addition to alpha and beta particles; all these people presumably cared about was the particles, which could continue to do harm after being removed from the zone. Aaron Gilbreath, Longreads, 10 Apr. 2018 Radionuclides: Water systems monitor for beta particles and photon radioactivity in drinking water. Nathaniel Levine, sacbee, 22 Sep. 2017
Word History
First Known Use
1904, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
beta particle
noun
: a high-speed electron
specifically: one emitted during radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus