1. Alpha Beta and Gamma Flashcards
What are the 3 types of ionising radiation?
Alpha, Beta and gamma
Emitted randomly
What is alpha radiation?
2 protons and 2 Neutrons
(Helium nuclei)
The nucleus loses 2 protons and 2 neutrons
This means the madd number decreases by 4 and the atomic number decreases by 2
What is beta radiation?
A fast moving electron emitted by the nucleus
Inside the nucleus, a neutron turns into a proton
This means the atomic number increases by 1 and the mass number stays the same (you haven’t lost a nucleon)
What is gamma radiation?
Electromagnetic wave- therefore no particles, less force exerted on electrons, doesnt lose as much energy, travels further
The nucleus loses some energy
The atomic and mass number don’t change
What is the relative mass of alpha radiation?
4 (2 protons and 2 neutrons)
What is the relative mass of beta radiation?
1/1836 (this is because beta radiation is a fast moving electron)
What is the relative mass of gamma radiation?
0
What is the relative charge of alpha?
+2
What is the relative charge of beta?
-1
What is the relative charge of gamma?
0
What material absorbs alpha?
Paper/skin/few cm of air
What material absorbs beta?
Few mm of aluminium or about 1m of air
What material reduces gamma?
Few cm of lead or several metres of concrete
What is ionisation?
- when radiation collides with an atom
- causes the atom to lose electrons
- atom becomes an ion
What is ionising power?
The force exerted on atoms when radiation collides with them
Radiation with more charge will interact with atoms with a larger force so it has a larger ionising power
Radiation with more ionising power loses energy faster, (larger force, passes on more energy) as it doesn’t have more energy it just ionises atoms more quickly
It doesnt penetrate as far
