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Radiation and Radioactivity : Types of Radiation : Beta Particles |
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Beta Particles |
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Beta particles are high-energy electrons that have been emitted by an unstable atom. They have almost no mass and travel at approximately 250,000 kilometers per second (about 560 million miles per hour). They penetrate farther than the relatively heavy alpha particles and can only be stopped after traveling through: |
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3 meters (about 10 feet) of air,
a few centimeters (less than 2 inches) of water, or a thin layer of glass or metal |
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