IGCSE PHYSICS NOTES-Nuclear physics

Feature	Beta-minus ( $\beta^-$ )	Beta-plus ( $\beta^+$ )
What is emitted?	Electron ( $e^-$ )	Positron ( $e^+$ )
Charge	Negative (-1e)	Positive (+1e)
Occurs in…	Neutron-rich nuclei	Proton-rich nuclei
Process	A neutron turns into a proton and emits an electron and an antineutrino.	A proton turns into a neutron and emits a positron and a neutrino.
Example Reaction	$_6^{14}C \rightarrow _7^{14}N + e^- + \bar{\nu}_e$	$_{11}^{22}Na \rightarrow _{10}^{22}Ne + e^+ + \nu_e$
End Result	Atomic number increases by 1 (new element formed)	Atomic number decreases by 1 (new element formed)

Beta-minus decay ( $\beta^-$ ):
- Happens when an unstable nucleus has too many neutrons.
- A neutron turns into a proton, and an electron is emitted.
- The emitted electron is the beta particle.
Beta-plus decay ( $\beta^+$ ):
- Happens when an unstable nucleus has too many protons.
- A proton turns into a neutron, and a positron is emitted.
- The emitted positron is the beta-plus particle.

NUCLEAR PHYSICS NOTES