Definition of Alpha particle

1. Noun. A positively charged particle that is the nucleus of the helium atom; emitted from natural or radioactive isotopes.

Generic synonyms: Particle, Subatomic Particle

Definition of Alpha particle

1. Noun. A positively charged nucleus of a helium-4 atom (consisting of two protons and two neutrons), emitted as a consequence of radioactivity; ?-particle ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Alpha particle

1. A radioactive particle made up of two protons and two neutrons, these particles are created by the decay of a radioactive material or by nuclear bombardment, and they are the same as the nucleus of a helium-4 atom. (09 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Alpha Particle

alpha foetoprotein
alpha geek
alpha geeks
alpha globulin
alpha glucosidase
alpha granule
alpha helices
alpha helix
alpha helixes
alpha interferon
alpha iron
alpha male
alpha males
alpha methyl dopa
alpha mucase
alpha particle
alpha particles
alpha privata
alpha privative
alpha privatives
alpha privativum
alpha radiation
alpha ray
alpha rays
alpha receptor
alpha rhythm
alpha software
alpha substance
alpha taxonomy
alpha test

Literary usage of Alpha particle

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1916)
"particle it not only changes to a different element, but the atomic weight of the element is reduced by the weight of the alpha particle, which is 4 units. ..."

2. Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers by American Institute of Electrical Engineers (1913)
"These scintillations may be counted, and, assuming that each point of light is caused by the impact of one alpha particle, an estimate may be made of the ..."

3. The Constitution of Matter by Joseph Sweetman Ames (1913)
"Actinium X atom; this loses an alpha particle, becoming an Actinium emanation atom ; this loses an ... A Thorium atom loses an alpha particle and becomes a ..."

4. A College Text-book of Physics by Arthur Lalanne Kimball (1917)
"Figure 468 shows the intense ionization caused by the motion of an alpha particle from radium, something like 30000 ions per centimeter being produced along ..."

5. Within the Atom: A Popular View of Electrons and Quanta by John Mills (1921)
"The nucleus may lose an alpha particle or a beta particle. A loss of an alpha particle reduces the number of protons in the nucleus by four and the number ..."

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