What is the speed of beta radiation in comparison to light?

Beta radiation consists of high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted during radioactive decay. These particles travel at speeds that are a significant fraction of the speed of light.

The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 300,000 kilometers per second (km/s), while beta particles typically move at speeds up to about 90% of the speed of light. This makes option B a fitting representation of the relative speed of beta radiation.

In the context of the other choices, while beta particles can approach close to light speed, they do not typically reach or exceed 99% of that speed, which would be implied by option C. Option A underestimates their speed, as electrons can easily achieve more than half the speed of light. Finally, option D, which refers to the speed of sound, is incorrect as sound travels much slower than light and beta radiation. Thus, beta particles have a speed that is best represented by around 90% of the speed of light.