Radioactive Emission

• An alpha particle is a helium nucleus
• A beta particle is a fast moving electron
• A gamma ray is high energy electromagnetic radiation
• Alpha particles are attracted to the negative plate as they have a charge of 2+
• Alpha particles are only slightly deflected in a magnetic field due to their high mass
• Beta particles are attracted to the positive plate due to their negative charge
• When in a magnetic field, beta particles are deflected strongly in the opposite direction of alpha particles as they have a light mass
• Electric and magnetic fields have no effect on gamma rays
• Alpha particles are the least penetrating, being stopped by a thin sheet of paper
• Beta particles have a moderate penetrating power, being stopped by a few centimetres of lead
• Gamma rays have the highest penetrating power, being stopped by a thick slab of lead
• Alpha particles are highly ionising due to their large size
• Beta particles are weakly ionising as they have less collisions with matter per cm^3 due to their small size