Animation showing an atom of carbon-14 undergoing beta decay. In beta decay, a neutron (yellow) converts to a proton (red), with the emission of an electron (blue) and an electron antineutrino (not shown). The conversion of a neutron to a proton increases the atomic number of the nucleus, converting it in this case from carbon-14 (with six protons and eight neutrons) to nitrogen-14 (with seven of each). Carbon-14 occurs in trace amounts, being produced by the action of cosmic rays on atmospheric nitrogen-14. It decays back to nitrogen-14 with a half life of some 5730 years. | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Equinox Graphics |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Länge: | 14 Sekunden |
Seitenverhältnis: | 16:9 |
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