Particles and Radiation

Question 1

What is radiation?

Answer 1

Any process in which energy emitted by one body travels through a medium or space, ultimately to be absorbed by another body.

Question 2

What is ionisation?

Answer 2

Adding or removing an electron to an atom to form an ion

Question 3

Alpha (α) radiation

Answer 3

• 2 protons and 2 neutrons
• • 2 charge
• Travels 1-2cm in the air
• Atomic mass= 4
• Stopped by paper and skin

Question 4

Beta (β) radiation

Answer 4

• Electron
• -1 charge
• Travels 15 cm in the air
• Atomic mass= close to nothing
• Stopped by thin aluminium

Question 5

Gamma (γ) radiation

Answer 5

• 0 charge
• Travels far
• Atomic mass= 0
• Stopped by thick lead