Beta Decay.

[ed84c]

Right beta decay is when a neutron decays into a Positron/ Electron and netrion/ anti neutrino; my question is are there any laws regarding this or is it totally random of one of the 4 eventualities occuring;

 

v, +e

v, -e

anti v, +e

anti v, -e

 

also if Beta and alpha decay occur at the same time, is just loads of helium made say, 1/1000th of an inch from the material when the particles are atracted to each other?

[swansont]

Neutrons alway beta decay into an electron, proton and antineutrino. Protons always beta decay into a neutron, positron and neutrino.

[Mart]

Neutrons alway beta decay into an electron, proton and antineutrino. Protons always beta decay into a neutron, positron and neutrino.

 

How long is the half-life of a proton?

[[Tycho?]]

How long is the half-life of a proton?

 

The proton is observed to be stable, with a lower limit on its half-life of about 10^35 years, although some theories predict that the proton may decay.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton

 

So a long time.

[swansont]

Free protons are stable (or have a reeaally long half-life). But protons in a nucleus can decay, and will decay, if there is an energetically favorable neutron energy level available. The half-life depends on the structure of the nucleus.

[Crash]

']http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton

 

So a long time.

 

longer than 10^35 as shown by the experiment carrieed out in the salt mines of ohio (to reduce the amount of background raditation detected, so it was more accurate) with tonnes and tonnes of water, although i dont exactly know what the figure is sorry.

[Mart]

Neutrons alway beta decay into an electron, proton and antineutrino. Protons always beta decay into a neutron, positron and neutrino.

 

 

How long is the half-life of a neutron?

[swansont]

How long is the half-life of a neutron?

 

10.4 minutes for a free neutron.

[ed84c]

Yes i worked out that if you had 100KG water and left it for 1 year then one proton would decay

[swansont]

Yes i worked out that if you had 100KG water and left it for 1 year then one proton would decay

 

Now all you have to do is detect it above the noise.

[[Tycho?]]

How long is the half-life of a neutron?

 

http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=half-life+of+neutron&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

 

You can look these things up quite easily you know.

[Mart]

']http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=half-life+of+neutron&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

 

 

You can look these things up quite easily you know.

 

Thanks for the advice but I didn't ask you a question. If the advice had come from swansont I would have got his point. Here's a question to you. Do you get my point?

[swansont]

Thanks for the advice but I didn't ask you a question. If the advice had come from swansont[/b'] I would have got his point. Here's a question to you. Do you get my point?

 

This is a "public" forum. Though you may have intended the question to be directed to me, it is really directed to the whole forum population, seeing as it was a matter of fact and not opinion. Anyone can answer, and the point Tycho made is valid.

 

I might have added "Doesn't anyone Google anymore?" or some other comment had my sarcastic tendencies not been dulled by a head cold.

[Ophiolite]

Thanks for the advice but I didn't ask you a question. If the advice had come from swansont[/b'] I would have got his point. Here's a question to you. Do you get my point?

No one is obliged to reply to any questions. Motivations for replying range from being helpful, to showing off, to socialising, to expanding ones own knowledge. Whichever applies, they all take time. Tycho did not have to take the time to respond with a good answer (and some free advice). As Swansont observed "Doesn't anyone Google anymore?" Do you get my point?

 

[Edit: If that sounded harsh, my apologies. We are all guests here and as a new one, welcome.]

[Mart]

No one is obliged to reply to any questions. Motivations for replying range from being helpful' date=' to showing off, to socialising, to expanding ones own knowledge. Whichever applies, they all take time. Tycho did not have to take the time to respond with a good answer (and some free advice). As Swansont observed "Doesn't anyone Google anymore?" Do you get [b']my[/b] point?

 

[Edit: If that sounded harsh, my apologies. We are all guests here and as a new one, welcome.]

 

That's fine. Just testing the waters.

[Klaynos]

Protons always beta decay into a neutron, positron and neutrino.

 

No they don't.

 

Neutrons are heavier than protons so CAN decay through beta decay. Protons therefore are lighter and cannot decay they have to gain mass to change into netrons...

 

Else you'd have:

netron decay into proton - less mass

proton decay into neutron - less mass, how can this be? How can something lose mass to become something that lost mast to become it'self?

[swansont]

No they don't.

 

Neutrons are heavier than protons so CAN decay through beta decay. Protons therefore are lighter and cannot decay they have to gain mass to change into netrons...

 

Else you'd have:

netron decay into proton - less mass

proton decay into neutron - less mass' date=' how can this be? How can something lose mass to become something that lost mast to become it'self?[/quote']

 

Yes, they do. Read post #5. Your statement is true only for unbound particles, and I wasn't restricting myself to that case. The context of the original question precludes it.