Which option correctly compares beta decay and gamma decay?
Beta decay involves the emission of a beta particle, which is either an electron or a positron, from the nucleus of an atom. This decay process changes the atomic number of the nucleus.
Gamma decay, on the other hand, involves the emission of a gamma ray from the nucleus. Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation and do not change the atomic number or mass number of the nucleus.
Therefore, the correct comparison is that beta decay changes the atomic number of the nucleus, while gamma decay does not.