Physics Presentation Script

Person 1 : Slides 1 - 6
Opening:

Good afternoon, everyone. Today, we will be discussing beta decay and the neutrino, two
important concepts in nuclear physics. These processes help us understand how unstable
atoms become stable and how particles like neutrinos play a role in the fundamental workings of
matter.

Table of contents:

Before we begin, here is an overview of what we will cover in today’s presentation. First, we will
start with a brief introduction. Then, we will discuss beta decay in detail. After that, we will look
at the energy involved in these processes, followed by the relevant equations. Finally, we will
share some interesting facts about beta decay and neutrinos. This will give you a clear roadmap
of the topics we will explore.

Introduction:

So, we will start with the introduction, which will cover the fundamentals of this topic.

Key terms part 1:

Now, it’s important to understand a few key terms. A neutron is a particle with no charge that
resides in the nucleus of an atom. A proton is a positively charged particle, also found in the
nucleus. An electron is a negatively charged particle, which is released during beta minus
decay. Finally, a positron is the positively charged counterpart of an electron, and it is released
during beta plus decay.

Key terms part 2:

Continuing with key terms, a neutrino or antineutrino is an extremely small, nearly massless
particle with no charge, which carries away energy during beta decay. The atomic number
represents the number of protons in an atom’s nucleus, and it changes during beta decay. In
contrast, the mass number, which is the total number of protons and neutrons, remains constant
throughout the process. Understanding these terms will help us follow the changes that occur
during beta decay.
What is Radioactive Decay :

Radioactive decay is a natural process that occurs spontaneously in unstable nuclei. During this
process, the nucleus releases energy in the form of particles or radiation. As a result, the
nucleus becomes more stable. Importantly, this process happens randomly, meaning it cannot
be precisely predicted for an individual atom, although we can describe it statistically for large
numbers of atoms.

Person 2 : Slides 7-12

Diagrammatic representation of radioactive decay :

This slide shows a diagrammatic representation of radioactive decay, focusing on beta decay.
On the left, we can see beta decay. *goes on to read off of the diagram
On the right, the diagram shows radioactive decay in general. *goes on to read off of the
diagram

Beta decay :

Now, we will move our focus to beta decay, which is a type of radioactive decay.

What is Beta decay :

Beta decay is a process that occurs in unstable nuclei to help them become more stable. During
this process, a neutron can transform into a proton, or a proton can transform into a neutron,
depending on the type of decay. This transformation causes the nucleus to emit a beta particle,
which can be either an electron or a positron. The mass number of the nucleus remains the
same, while the atomic number changes, resulting in the formation of a new element.

Types of Beta decay :

There are two types of beta decay: beta minus decay and beta plus decay. In beta minus decay,
a neutron in an unstable nucleus changes into a proton, releasing an electron and an
antineutrino. The mass number stays the same, but the atomic number increases by one,
forming a new element. In beta plus decay, a proton is converted into a neutron, emitting a
positron and a neutrino. Again, the mass number remains unchanged, but the atomic number
decreases by one, also forming a new element.

Diagrammatic representation of beta decay :

As you can see from the given diagrams, the difference between beta plus and beta minus
decay is clear. *goes on to read off of diagrams

Uses of Beta Decay :

Beta decay has several important applications in science and industry. In medicine,
beta-emitting isotopes are used as tracers to monitor and image processes inside the body.
They are also used in cancer treatment, where certain beta-emitters help destroy cancer cells in
a controlled way. In industry, beta radiation is applied for thickness control, allowing the precise
monitoring of paper, plastic, or metal sheets during production. Finally, beta decay plays a role
in radioactive dating, such as carbon-14 dating, which is used to estimate the age of organic
materials.

Person 3 : Slides 13 - 18
Energy of alpha and beta decay :

Now, we will quickly move on to the energy of alpha and beta decay and see how they slightly
differ.

Energy during alpha decay :

Alpha particles have discrete energy levels, which reflects the fact that nuclei themselves exist
in fixed energy states. When a nucleus undergoes decay, the energy released corresponds to
the difference between these energy levels. Since only the alpha particle and the resulting
daughter nucleus are produced in this process, the energy is consistently conserved in the
same way each time.

Energy during beta decay :

Unlike alpha particles, beta particles have a continuous range of energy levels. This is due to
the involvement of neutrinos, which carry away part of the energy during the decay process.
The total energy is shared between the beta particle, the neutrino, and the daughter nucleus,
and the proportions vary randomly. As a result, the energy of a beta particle can range from
nearly zero up to a maximum value, which occurs when the neutrino carries very little energy.

Diagrammatic representation of energy levels :

These diagrams show the differing distribution in energy levels. *goes on to read off of diagrams

Equations :

Next, we will look at the equations involved in these processes.

Decay equations part 1 :

In nuclear decay, the total number of nucleons is always conserved, meaning the sum of
protons and neutrons remains the same before and after decay. For example, in alpha decay,
the isotope radon-222 emits an alpha particle to form polonium-218. The alpha particle consists
of two protons and two neutrons, and the total number of nucleons is conserved in this process.
Person 3 : Slides 19-24
Decay equations part 2 :

Similarly, in beta decay, nucleons are also conserved. In beta minus decay, the isotope
manganese-56 emits an electron and an antineutrino to transform into iron-56, with the mass
number unchanged and the atomic number increasing by one. In beta plus decay, vanadium-48
emits a positron and a neutrino to form titanium-48, with the mass number remaining constant
while the atomic number decreases by one. These equations demonstrate how both mass and
charge are carefully balanced in nuclear decay processes.

Interesting facts :

Now, let’s look at some mind-boggling fun-facts.

Facts :

Beta decay occurs due to the weak nuclear force, which is one of the fundamental forces
governing certain nuclear processes in everyday life. Interestingly, the beta particles
themselves- electrons or positrons - are not already present in the nucleus; they are actually
created at the moment of decay. During this process, neutrinos are also emitted. These particles
interact so weakly with matter that trillions pass through our bodies every second without any
effect. Neutrinos are essential because they carry away missing energy and momentum,
ensuring that the fundamental laws of conservation are maintained during beta decay.

Summary :

Let’s summarise what we have learnt so far. *goes on to read from slide, while maintaining
eye-contact with the audience.

Closing :

In conclusion, beta decay is a key process in nuclear physics that allows unstable nuclei to
become more stable. Through the emission of beta particles and neutrinos, energy and nucleon
numbers are carefully balanced, and new elements can be formed. Beta decay has important
applications in medicine, industry, and science, and studying it helps us better understand the
fundamental forces and particles that govern the universe. Thank you for your attention.

Questions :

If you have any questions, please ask us now!