Types of radiation

• Ionising radiation includes three types: Alpha (α), Beta (β), and Gamma (γ).
• Alpha particles consist of two protons plus two neutrons and are identical to a helium atom, emitted by some of the isotopes of the heaviest elements.
• Beta particles are emitted by unstable isotopes with excess neutrons and consist of high speed electrons.
• Gamma rays are emitted by the nucleus after it has emitted an alpha or beta particle, causing no change in the number of particles in the nucleus.
• All of these forms of radiation are energetic enough to pull electrons away from atoms, turning the atoms into charged particles, or ions, hence the name ionising radiation.
• Beta radiation can penetrate thin aluminium, while Alpha radiation can only penetrate skin or paper.
• Gamma radiation can penetrate both thin aluminium and thick lead.
• The penetrating power of ionising radiation can be determined by a practical method involving a Geiger-Müller tube and a source of radiation.
• Some isotopes are radioactive, meaning the nucleus of the atoms change and emit radiation.
• If an isotope is stable it will not give out radiation, making it not radioactive.
• If an isotope is unstable it will emit radiation to become more stable.
• There are various forms of radiation: Alpha (α), Beta (β), and Gamma (γ).
• Alpha particles are stopped most easily of the three types of radioactive emissions.
• Gamma rays are the emission without a mass.
• An isotope is an atom of the same element with a different number of neutrons.
• The number of neutrons in an atom can be calculated by subtracting the atomic number from the mass number.
• There are three types of nuclear radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma.
• Alpha radiation is identical to a helium nucleus, beta radiation is a fast moving electron, and gamma radiation is a wave of electromagnetic energy.
• Carbon-12 has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons.
• Carbon-13 has 6 protons, 7 neutrons, and 6 electrons.
• Carbon-13 is an isotope of carbon-12 because they are the same element with a different number of neutrons.
• Carbon-13 can be written in the following format: C-13, 6, 6, 6.
• Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation are the three types of nuclear radiation.
• Alpha radiation consists of two neutrons and two protons, it is the same as a helium nucleus.
• Beta radiation is a high speed electron ejected from the nucleus as a neutron turns into a proton.
• Gamma radiation is electromagnetic radiation from the nucleus.
• Neutrons are a type of nuclear radiation.
• The properties of alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays are limited to their penetration through materials, their range in air, and ionising power.
• Students should be able to apply their knowledge of the properties of alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays to the uses of radiation and evaluate the best sources of radiation to use in a given situation.
• Nuclear equations are used to represent radioactive decay.
• Alexander Litvinenko received a fatal dose of radiation.
• All of these forms of radiation are examples of ionising radiation and can all penetrate materials.
• Isotopes of any particular element contain the same number of protons, but different numbers of neutrons.
• If an isotope is unstable it will emit radiation to become more stable.
• Ionising radiation has enough energy to remove an electron from an atom (ionisation).
• Alpha particles consist of two protons plus two neutrons and are identical to a helium atom.
• Ionising radiation can break up molecules and start chemical reactions, if this is DNA it can cause mutations leading to cancer.
• One of these neutrons changes into a proton and an electron in beta decay, with the proton remaining in the nucleus and the electron being emitted as the beta particle.
• Gamma ray emission causes no change in the number of particles in the nucleus meaning both the atomic number and mass number remain the same.
• If an isotope is stable it will not give out radiation and is not radioactive.