Physics - Modern Physics Question with Solution | TestHub

Beta decay can involve the emission of either electrons or positrons. The electrons or positrons emitted in a $\beta$ -decay do not exist inside the nucleus. They are only created at the time of emission, just as photons are created when an atom makes a transition from higher to a lower energy state. In negative $\beta$ -decay a neutron in the nucleus is transformed into a proton, an electron and an antineutrino. Hence, in radioactive decay process, the negatively charged emitted \beta-particles are the electrons produced as a result of the decay of neutrons present inside the nucleus.