Alpha, Beta, Gamma Radiation/Decay

• The nucleus is the central part of an atom.
• What is Alpha radiation made of?

  2 protons and neutrons
• what is beta radiation made of?

  an electrons
• what is gamma radiation made of?

  waves of electromagnetic radiation
• Alpha radiation is made of alpha particles which are relatively large and have a strong charge.
• Alpha radiation is very Ionising but can be easily stopped, it cannot penetrate very far.
• Beta radiation is , moderately ionising and can penetrate moderately far.
• when an atom decays and emits beta radiation, its neutrons day into a proton and electron. The electron is then shot out at high speed.
• Gamma radiation is usually emitted after alpha or beta radiation, as a way of getting rid of extra energy
• Gamma radiation has no mass or charge, it penetrates very far as it goes straight through materials, but is weakly ionizing
• emission of neutron radiation is when an atom has too many neutrons, which makes it unstable, so it throws out a neutron.
• The equation sequence for Alpha radiation is... 


  x-4-2 +a4, 2

  
• Beta radiation consists of electrons and has better penetration than Alpha radiation
• Gamma radiation consists of waves and is emitted after alpha or beta radiation, as a way of the nucleus releasing excess energy
• Gamma radiation has no mass or charge and requires thick lead or concrete for shielding
• The sequence equation for beta radiation is...

  Ya-1 +B0-1

  
• Alpha radiation equation

  -4 -2 4He2

  The bottom number shows the new element
• Beta radiation decay equation

  0 +1 0 e-1
• How can alpha radiation be used in everyday life ?

  Smoke detectors
• How can beta radiation be used ?

  Thickness gauge in factories
• What can gamma radiation be used for?

  Radiotherapy and medical sterilization
• What can stop gamma radiation|?

  Nothing really but thick concreate and lead can slow it and block it mostly