What is a beta particle?

A beta particle is best defined as a high-speed electron or positron emitted during the process of radioactive decay. In nuclear reactions, when an unstable nucleus undergoes beta decay, it transforms by emitting a beta particle, which results in the conversion of a neutron into a proton (in the case of beta-minus decay, where an electron is emitted), or a proton into a neutron (in beta-plus decay, where a positron is emitted).

This process is significant because it leads to a change in the atomic number of the element, effectively transforming it into a different element while conserving the overall mass and energy of the system. Understanding beta particles is essential in fields such as nuclear physics and medicine, where beta radiation is utilized in various applications, including cancer treatment.

The other options describe different concepts: a neutron is a subatomic particle with no charge, a proton is a positively charged particle that can release large amounts of energy but does not represent a beta particle, and a stable nucleus involves particles that do not undergo radioactive decay, in contrast to those that emit beta particles.