Atomic structure

• Atomic Structure


  Consists of unitable tapes that can undergo radioactive decay
• Types of radiation


  • Alpha
  • Beta
  • Gamma
• Alpha radiation consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons
• Alpha radiation has a charge of 2
• Alpha radiation is relatively large
• Alpha radiation can't penetrate very far into matter
• Alpha radiation is strongly ionizing - easily knocks electrons off of atoms it collides with
• Beta radiation consists of high-speed electrons
• Beta radiation has a charge of -1
• Beta radiation is one of the outcomes of neutron decay, resulting in an electron and a proton
• The proton stays in the nucleus after beta decay
• Beta radiation is emitted at high speed
• Beta radiation has moderate penetrating power, can penetrate several meters in air and a few mm of aluminium
• Gamma radiation has no charge and no mass
• Gamma radiation has high penetrating power, can only be stopped by thick layers of dense material like lead or concrete