Physics A-Level
Electron capture
What Electron capture means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Electron capture
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Reference: AQA
An inner-shell electron combines with a proton to form a neutron, so Z decreases by 1 and N increases by 1 while A stays constant; a neutrino is emitted.
Topics that use Electron capture
- Nuclear instability (A-level only) (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Alpha emission
- Beta-minus decay
- Beta-plus decay
- Conservation laws
- Gamma emission
- Nuclear equations
- Nuclear excited state
- Nuclide notation
Using Electron capture in the exam
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