The path traced by beta particles in air is:
Correct answer: B. Erratic
- A. Straight
- B. Erratic
- C. Circular
- D. Elliptical
Explanation
The path traced by beta particles in air is erratic. This is because beta particles are high-speed electrons emitted during radioactive decay. As they travel, they collide with air molecules, causing them to scatter and lose energy, resulting in a zigzag or erratic path.Option A, Straight, is incorrect because constant collisions with air molecules prevent beta particles from maintaining a straight trajectory over any significant distance.Option C, Circular, and Option D, Elliptical, are incorrect as they describe paths influenced by strong magnetic fields, which beta particles do not experience under normal atmospheric conditions.
This question appeared on the ETEA MDCAT 2016 paper, which you can sit online with every answer explained.
Report an error
The more specific you are, the faster it gets fixed. A source beats an opinion.
Prefer email? [email protected]
About Radioactive Decay
Radioactive decay is the spontaneous transformation of unstable nuclei, described by decay constant, activity, half life and the exponential decay law. Work includes alpha, beta and gamma emissions, decay equations and remaining nuclei, with half life distinguished from the time required for complete decay.
Practise Nuclear Physics
1,254 free Nuclear Physics MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Discussion
Stuck on an option, or know a faster way to get there? Ask or explain it here.
No comments yet. Be the first to explain this one.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 16 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.
More Radioactive Decay questions
Fission fragments usually decay by emitting:
The isotope which decay by β-1 emission to produce 48Cd111 is
Radioactive activity is affected by:
Becquerel is the unit of:
The first artificial radioactive substance was made by bombarding aluminum 15Al27, with fix-particle. This produced an unstable isotope of phosphorus, 15P30, What was the byproduct of this reaction?
When lead, 81Pb214, emits a ß- particle, the resultant nucleus will be: