Are alpha or beta particles smaller?

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Multiple Choice

Are alpha or beta particles smaller?

Explanation:
Beta particles are smaller than alpha particles. An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, consisting of two protons and two neutrons, so it has a relatively large mass and bulky size. A beta particle is an electron (or positron), which is far lighter. That big difference in mass and size means beta particles are the smaller of the two. (Gamma rays and X-rays are photons, not massive particles, so they don’t have a size in the same sense.)

Beta particles are smaller than alpha particles. An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, consisting of two protons and two neutrons, so it has a relatively large mass and bulky size. A beta particle is an electron (or positron), which is far lighter. That big difference in mass and size means beta particles are the smaller of the two. (Gamma rays and X-rays are photons, not massive particles, so they don’t have a size in the same sense.)

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