<P> A beta particle, also called beta ray or beta radiation (symbol β), is a high - energy, high - speed electron or positron emitted by the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus during the process of beta decay . There are two forms of beta decay, β decay and β decay, which produce electrons and positrons respectively . </P> <P> Beta particles with an energy of 0.5 MeV have a range of about one metre in air; the distance is dependent on the particle energy . </P>

What is the nuclear symbol for a beta particle