Decay Mode Emission Ledger Scan - Nuclear Radiation: Decay, Binding, and Shielding Step by Step

Alpha, beta-minus, and gamma rows close different count ledgers. Exact arithmetic here means exact results for the stated model inputs; measured inputs still carry uncertainty and significant-figure limits.

highlighted = computed this step

Alpha carries four mass and two protons

In the alpha row, parent A 20 closes as daughter A 16 plus emitted A 4. Parent Z 10 closes as daughter Z 8 plus emitted Z 2.

\begin{array}{c}A:\ 20=16+4\\Z:\ 10=8+2\end{array}

Beta-minus keeps mass and raises daughter Z

In the beta-minus row, parent A 14 closes as daughter A 14 plus emitted A 0. Parent Z 6 closes as daughter Z 7 plus emitted Z -1.

\begin{array}{c}A:\ 14=14+0\\Z:\ 6=7-1\end{array}

Gamma carries energy without count change

In the gamma row, parent A 12 closes as daughter A 12 plus emitted A 0. Parent Z 6 closes as daughter Z 6 plus emitted Z 0.

\begin{array}{c}A:\ 12=12+0\\Z:\ 6=6+0\end{array}