TSR Wiki > Study Help > Subjects and Revision > Revision Notes > Physics > Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation
Alpha rays (or particles)
- helium nuclei – 42 He
- Big and heavy (slow moving)
- Don’t penetrate into materials
- Very ionising
- Blocked by paper
Beta rays (or particles)
- high-energy electrons – -10 e
- Quite small, move quite fast
- Penetrate materials moderately
- Ionise moderately
- (for every beta particle emitted, a neutron turns into a proton in the nucleus)
- Blocked by thin Aluminium
Gamma rays
- electromagnetic waves with shorter wavelength (higher frequency) than x-rays
- Opposite to alpha
- Penetrate materials well
- Weakly ionising
- When hit something do damage
- Blocked by thick lead
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