P6.1 Radioactive Emissions

• What is radioactivity?

  Spontaneous emission from nuclei
• Order the three types of radioactive emissions based on their ionizing power from strongest to weakest.

  1️⃣ Alpha particles (α)

  2️⃣ Beta particles (β)

  3️⃣ Gamma rays (γ)
• Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons
• What charge do beta particles carry?

  Negative or positive
• Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic waves with low ionizing power.

  True
• Match the type of emission with its properties:

  Alpha particles ↔️ Strong ionizing power, low penetration

  Beta particles ↔️ Moderate ionizing power, moderate penetration

  Gamma rays ↔️ Low ionizing power, high penetration
• Alpha particles have a strong ionizing power due to their charge and mass
• Alpha particles are equivalent to a helium nucleus.
• What type of charge do gamma rays carry?

  Uncharged
• Beta particles have moderate penetration and can be stopped by thin metal sheets.

  True
• Order the types of radioactive emissions by their ionizing power from strongest to weakest:

  1️⃣ Alpha Particles

  2️⃣ Beta Particles

  3️⃣ Gamma Rays
• Alpha particles have low penetration and can be stopped by human skin.


  True
• What are beta particles composed of?

  Electrons or positrons
• Beta particles require thin metal sheets to be stopped.
• What type of material is needed to stop gamma rays effectively?

  Lead or concrete
• Only alpha and beta particles are charged, while gamma rays are uncharged.

  True
• Alpha particles and beta particles are charged, while gamma rays are uncharged
• What type of material is required to stop gamma rays?

  Thick lead or concrete
• Which radioactive emissions are charged?

  Alpha and beta particles
• Where can radioactivity occur naturally?

  Earth's crust
• Match the type of emission with its charge:

  Alpha Particles ↔️ Positive

  Beta Particles ↔️ Negative or Positive

  Gamma Rays ↔️ Uncharged
• What is an alpha particle equivalent to?

  Helium nucleus
• What type of charge do alpha particles carry?

  Positive
• Match the property of beta particles with its description:

  Composition ↔️ Electrons or positrons

  Ionizing Power ↔️ Moderate

  Penetration ↔️ Moderate, stopped by thin metal sheets
• Gamma rays have high ionizing power.

  False
• Order the following radioactive emissions based on their increasing penetration:

  1️⃣ Alpha Particles

  2️⃣ Beta Particles

  3️⃣ Gamma Rays
• Alpha particles have the strongest ionizing power but lowest penetration.


  True
• What is the composition of an alpha particle?

  Helium nucleus
• During alpha decay, the mass number decreases by 4.
• Match the type of emission with its penetration material:

  Alpha Particles ↔️ Paper or skin

  Beta Particles ↔️ Thin metal sheets

  Gamma Rays ↔️ Thick lead or concrete
• What type of charge do beta particles carry?

  Negative or positive
• Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons.
• Beta particles have moderate ionizing power.
• Alpha particles have a high penetration power.

  False
• What are beta particles composed of?

  Electrons or positrons
• What are gamma rays?

  High-energy electromagnetic waves
• Gamma rays require thick lead or concrete to be stopped effectively.
• Which type of radioactive emission has the strongest ionizing power?

  Alpha particles
• What happens to the mass number during alpha decay?

  Decreases by 4
• During beta decay, a neutron converts into a proton and an electron