How to Use alpha particle in a Sentence

alpha particle

noun
  • Like a bent arm, the Hoyle state takes the shape of an obtuse triangle with an alpha particle at each vertex.
    Quanta Magazine, 4 Dec. 2012
  • An alpha particle is made of two protons and two neutrons.
    Kat Friedrich, Popular Mechanics, 12 Dec. 2022
  • Starting with oxygen gas, the team will split its nucleus into a helium nucleus, also known as an alpha particle, and a carbon-12 nucleus.
    David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 21 Aug. 2019
  • The fourth decay can occur by two different routes, with each path releasing one alpha particle and one beta particle before reaching lead-209.
    Jacqueline Detwiler, Popular Mechanics, 1 Feb. 2020
  • Hoyle state nuclei almost always decay right back into beryllium and an alpha particle.
    Quanta Magazine, 4 Dec. 2012
  • These particles, primarily composed of electrons, protons, and helium nuclei (known as alpha particles), fly all over the solar system.
    Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2018
  • But unlike cosmic radiation or radon gas, plutonium can lodge itself inside the body and deliver tissue damaging alpha particles over a lifetime.
    Ralph Vartabedian, latimes.com, 16 Apr. 2018
  • But unlike cosmic radiation or radon gas, plutonium can lodge itself inside the body and deliver tissue-damaging alpha particles over a lifetime.
    Ted Sickinger, OregonLive.com, 22 Apr. 2018

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alpha particle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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