Radiation Safety Practice Exam

What type of radiation is associated with electron emission?

1. Alpha particles

2. Gamma rays

3. Beta particles

4. X-rays

The correct answer is: Beta particles

The correct answer is associated with beta particles, which are a type of radiation that results from the emission of electrons or positrons during radioactive decay. When a nucleus undergoes beta decay, it converts a neutron into a proton (or vice versa), leading to the ejection of an electron (beta-minus decay) or a positron (beta-plus decay). This process is a crucial mechanism for unstable isotopes to achieve greater stability. In contrast, alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons, which are ejected from the nucleus and are not related to electron emission. Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted from a nucleus, typically following a nuclear decay, and do not involve the emission of charged particles like electrons or positrons. X-rays are another form of electromagnetic radiation, produced by electron interactions, but they are not classified as being directly emitted from radioactive decay processes. Understanding these distinctions is essential in radiation safety and helps clarify the nature of different types of radiation encountered in various contexts, particularly in medical and industrial applications.