Question

What happens in a ${\beta }^{+}$ (beta positive) decay?

• A. Proton converts into a neutron.
• B. Neutron converts into a proton.
• C. Electron and antineutrino are created.
• D. Positron and neutrino are created.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (D)

Positron and neutrino are created.

${\beta }^{+}$(beta positive) decay in some sense is just the reverse of ${\beta }^{-}$(beta minus) decay.
In a ${\beta }^{-}$ decay a neutron converts itself into a proton.
Whereas in a ${\beta }^{+}$ decay a proton converts itself into a neutron.
In a ${\beta }^{-}$ decay , electron and antineutrino are created and emitted from the nucleus whereas in a ${\beta }^{+}$ decay, a positron and a neutrino are created and emitted from the nucleus.