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    Topic 2 - Particles and Radiation-2

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    Anderson xiao
    There are three main types of ionizing radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha radiation consists of two protons and two neutrons (helium nucleus) emitted from radioactive isotopes. Beta radiation is an electron emitted when a neutron converts to a proton. Gamma radiation is a high-energy electromagnetic wave with no mass. Each type has different ionizing power and ability to penetrate matter, with alpha being the most ionizing but least penetrating and gamma being the least ionizing but most penetrating. The emission of radiation from radioactive isotopes is a random process.

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    Topic 2 - Particles and Radiation-2

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    Anderson xiao
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    There are three main types of ionizing radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha radiation consists of two protons and two neutrons (helium nucleus) emitted from radioactive isotopes. Beta radiation is an electron emitted when a neutron converts to a proton. Gamma radiation is a high-energy electromagnetic wave with no mass. Each type has different ionizing power and ability to penetrate matter, with alpha being the most ionizing but least penetrating and gamma being the least ionizing but most penetrating. The emission of radiation from radioactive isotopes is a random process.

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    There are three main types of ionizing radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha radiation consists of two protons and two neutrons (helium nucleus) emitted from radioactive isotopes. Beta radiation is an electron emitted when a neutron converts to a proton. Gamma radiation is a high-energy electromagnetic wave with no mass. Each type has different ionizing power and ability to penetrate matter, with alpha being the most ionizing but least penetrating and gamma being the least ionizing but most penetrating. The emission of radiation from radioactive isotopes is a random process.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    9 views2 pages

    Topic 2 - Particles and Radiation-2

    Uploaded by

    Anderson xiao
    There are three main types of ionizing radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. Alpha radiation consists of two protons and two neutrons (helium nucleus) emitted from radioactive isotopes. Beta radiation is an electron emitted when a neutron converts to a proton. Gamma radiation is a high-energy electromagnetic wave with no mass. Each type has different ionizing power and ability to penetrate matter, with alpha being the most ionizing but least penetrating and gamma being the least ionizing but most penetrating. The emission of radiation from radioactive isotopes is a random process.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    3/27/22, 9:03 AM Course Content (c) Open Study College

    Radiation
    Many isotopes are very unstable, and they can’t stay together as they are. Every now and again an
    atom of the isotope will spit out a piece of itself. This is called radiation and the isotopes are called
    radioactive. The radiation can be of two different forms – a piece of matter or a high frequency wave.

    Nature of ionising radiation

    The radiation that we will look at in this course is of three types. They are named after the first three
    letters of the Greek alphabet.

    Radiation Nature

    Alpha This is the largest piece of radiation and is a chunk of


    matter consisting of two protons
    and two neutrons.
    This is exactly the same constituents as a helium nucleus.

    Beta This is an electron that is emitted from the nucleus as a


    result of a neutron turning into
    a proton and an electron.
    The electron or beta particle is shot out of the nucleus
    leaving the proton behind.

    Gamma This type of radiation is a very high energy electromagnetic


    wave. It is the only one of
    the three types we look at in this
    course that has no mass.

    Each radiation has a symbol that we use as a kind of shorthand:

    Radiation Symbol

    Alpha α

    Beta β

    Gamma γ

    These are the first three letters of the Greek alphabet.

    These radiations are known as ionising radiations. When they interact with matter they can often
    make the atoms of the matter into charged particles. This process of making other particles charged
    is known as ionisation. A charged atom is called an ion. Ions can be either positively or negatively
    charged.

    A radioactive decay of a particular atom cannot be predicted. It is a completely random event.

    Properties of ionising radiation

    Ionising power, penetration and range in air

    Radiation Ionising power


    https://study.openstudycollege.com/course/1859520/module/4465943/Scorm?LPId=0 1/2
    3/27/22, 9:03 AM Course Content (c) Open Study College

    Alpha This is the most ionising of the radiations as it interacts with matter very easily.
    It is as
    much as 20 times more ionising than the others.

    Beta Much less ionising than alpha.

    Gamma Very weakly ionising.

    Radiation Penetration through matter

    Alpha Is stopped by just a few centimetres of air.

    Beta Is stopped by a thin sheet of aluminium.

    Gamma Can only be stopped by several centimetres of led or


    several metres of concrete.

    Radiation Range in air

    Alpha Can only penetrate a few centimetres of air.

    Beta Can penetrate a few metres of air.

    Gamma Can penetrate long distances through the air.

     
     🖶  © Open Study College

    https://study.openstudycollege.com/course/1859520/module/4465943/Scorm?LPId=0 2/2

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