Properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation: Atomic structure: Physics: GCSE (9:1)

Relative mass and charge of a alpha particle

Relative mass and charge of a alpha particle

Mass = 4 and charge = +2

Relative mass and charge of a beta particle

Mass = approx. 1/2000 and charge = –1

Relative mass and charge of a gamma ray

Mass = 0 and charge = 0

Ionising power

The ability to ionise materials

Effect of charge on ionising power

The greater the charge of the radiation, the more it will ionise materials

Ionising power of an alpha particle

Highly ionising

Ionising power of a beta particle

Moderately ionising

Ionising power of a gamma ray

Weakly ionising

Penetrating power

The ability to penetrate (pass through) matter

Effect of mass on penetrating power

The greater the mass of the radiation, the less it will penetrate materials

Penetrating power of an alpha particle

Weakly penetrating

Penetrating power of a beta particle

Moderately penetrating

Penetrating power of a gamma ray

Strongly penetrating

Materials that stop alpha particles

Skin or paper

Materials that stop beta particles

A few millimetres (mm) of aluminium

Materials that stop gamma rays

Several centimetres (cm) of lead or about 1 metre (m) of concrete

Range (in air)

How far nuclear radiation can travel in air before it is absorbed

Range of an alpha particle

Less than 5 centimetres (cm)

Range of a beta particle

About 1 metre (m)

Range of a gamma ray

Over 1 kilometre (km)