Physics A-Level
Alpha and beta decay
What Alpha and beta decay means in Physics A-Level, as defined for OCR.
Definition of Alpha and beta decay
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Alpha and beta decay in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: OCR
Alpha emission reduces nucleon number by 4 and charge by 2, beta-minus leaves nucleon number unchanged and increases charge by 1, and beta-plus leaves nucleon number unchanged and decreases charge by 1.
Topics that use Alpha and beta decay
- Nuclear fission and fusion (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Barium
- Binding energy
- Binding energy per nucleon against nucleon number curve
- Chain reactions
- Characteristic X-rays from shell transitions
- Compton effect
- Computer reconstruction of attenuation data
- Conservation laws in particle interactions
Using Alpha and beta decay in the exam
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