| Properties of
Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation |
| Properties
of α – particles |
- α – particles
are nuclei of He.
- Emission of α – particles reduces the mass number by 4
and atomic number by 2 of the emitting parent
nucleus.
- α – particles
are positively charged particles. Their
charge is 2e.
- They produce intense ionization of the surrounding
material through which they pass.
- They are not very penetrating, as their
mass is high.
- Being charged particles, they are deflected
by both electric and magnetic fields.
Properties
of β – particles
|
- β – particles
are made of two types : β–
– particles are electrons. They are negatively
charged. β+
– particles are positrons. They are positively
charged.
- Emission of β – particles leads to change in the atomic
number Z, but the atomic
mass number A remains unchanged.
- β – particles
are generally emitted with high energies.
- Since the mass of the β – particles is small, their ionizing power
while passing through any matter is relatively
small.
- The penetrating power of β – particles is larger than that
observed for the α – particles. But the
penetration is less than that seen for the
β –rays.
- Since β – particles
are charged particles, they can be deflected
by electric and magnetic fields.
Properties
of γ –rays |
- γ –rays are
photons or electromagnetic waves. Their
wavelength is very small ~10–10m.
Emission of a γ –ray does not change any
of the A or Z
or N numbers.
- γ –rays are
uncharged and have high energies.
- γ –rays have
very high penetrating power, higher than
both the alpha rays and the beta rays.
- γ –rays have
very low ionization power.
- Since they are uncharged, γ –rays cannot
be deflected by either electric or magnetic
fields.
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