alpha beta and gamma radiation
- Created by: sofia84
- Created on: 21-10-18 10:43
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- alpha, beta and gamma radiation
- alpha emission
- Where two protons and two neutrons leave the nucleus at a high speed
- alpha particles
- when an alpha particle is emitted the atomic number drops by two and the mass number by four
- this changes the nucleus into the nucleus of another element
- due to their high speed and high mass gives them high kinetic energy
- because of their high energy they can knock electrons orbiting atoms out of place which makes the atoms become charged/ ionised
- being ionised makes them dangerous if they get into the human body as they can damage DNA this can lead to cancer
- because of their high energy they can knock electrons orbiting atoms out of place which makes the atoms become charged/ ionised
- when an alpha particle is emitted the atomic number drops by two and the mass number by four
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- because they are powerfully ionising they cant travel very far and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or outer layer of human skin
- only dangerous if they are swallowed or inhaled
- low penetrating power
- Beta emission
- beta minus
- emits a highly energetic electron with -1 charge
- atomic number of isotope/ atom increases by one
- occurs in nuclei that have too many neutrons to be stable
- neutron is turned into proton through emission of an electron
- emits a highly energetic electron with -1 charge
- beta plus
- emits energetic positron with +1 charge
- occurs in nuclei that have too many protons to be stable
- proton turned into neutron through emission of a positron
- atomic number decreases by one
- less energetic than alpha decay
- so less ionising and less dangerous
- can go through paper but is stopped by 3-5 mm of Al
- leaves the mass number of isotope / atom unchanged , atomic no depends if its beta plus or beta minus
- beta minus
- Gamma Emission
- least energetic of the radiation
- waves have no mass so atomic number and mass number do not change
- the only change after gamma decay is that the nuclei is less energetic than before
- therefore normally occurs after alpha or beta decay which leave the nucleus unstable and excited state
- the only change after gamma decay is that the nuclei is less energetic than before
- not affected by magnetic fields
- not ionising as they have little energy however highly penetrating can go through sheets of lead
- less damage to cells than alpha and beta
- alpha emission
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