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How do alpha particles differ from beta particles in mass and electric charge?
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The harmful effects of radiation from nuclear bombing.
Alpha and beta particles differ significantly in their composition, mass, and electric charge:
- Alpha Particles: An alpha particle is identical to the nucleus of a helium-4 atom, consisting of two protons and two neutrons bound together. Consequently, it has a mass of four atomic units and a positive electric charge of two.12
- Beta Particles: A beta particle is an electron or its antiparticle, the positron. These particles have a relatively small mass compared to alpha particles. Regarding charge, beta-minus particles carry a negative charge, while beta-plus particles (positrons) carry a positive charge.23
In summary, alpha particles are much more massive than beta particles and possess a fixed positive charge, whereas beta particles are low-mass subatomic particles that can be either negatively or positively charged.123