• Some elements have nuclei that are unstable
  • This tends to be when the number of nucleons does not balance

   

• In order to become more stable, they emit particles and/or electromagnetic radiation
  • These nuclei are said to be?radioactive

   

• There are three different types of radioactive emission: Alpha, Beta and Gamma

Alpha Particles

• Alpha (α) particles?are high energy particles made up of?2 protons and 2 neutrons?(the same as a helium nucleus)
• They are usually emitted from nuclei that are too large

Beta Particles

• Beta (β?) particles are high energy electrons?emitted from the nucleus
  • β??particles are emitted by nuclei that have too many?neutrons

   

• Beta is a?moderately?ionising type of radiation
  • This is due to it having a charge of +1e
  • This means it is able to do some slight damage to cells (less than alpha but more than gamma)

   

• Beta is a?moderately?penetrating type of radiation
  • Beta particles have a range of around 20 cm - 3 m in air, depending on their energy

   

• Beta can be stopped by a few millimetres of?aluminium?foil

Gamma Rays

• Gamma (γ) rays are high energy electromagnetic waves
• They are emitted by nuclei that need to lose some energy

• If these particles hit other atoms, they can knock out electrons,?ionising the atom
• This can cause chemical changes in materials and can damage or kill living cells

When radiation passes close to atoms, it can knock out electrons, ionising the atom

• The properties of the different types of radiation are summarised in the table below
• u?is the atomic mass unit (see “Atomic Mass Unit (u)”)
• e?is the charge of the electron: 1.60 × 10-19?C
• c?is the speed of light: 3 × 108?m s-1

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