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Radioactivity

Penetration of alpha, beta and gamma

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 6 (Physics)

Overview

What absorbs alpha, beta and gamma radiation, which is most and least penetrating, which ionises most strongly, how far each travels in air, and reading absorption tests.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Evaluation

Compare the penetration and ionising power of alpha, beta and gamma radiation, and state how far beta particles travel in air.

Key term

What thickness of material is enough to absorb alpha particles?

Key term

What material and thickness is needed to absorb beta particles?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What thickness of material is enough to absorb alpha particles?

    Model answer

    A sheet of paper, or a few centimetres of air, will absorb them.

  2. 2

    What material and thickness is needed to absorb beta particles?

    Model answer

    About a few millimetres of aluminium will absorb them.

  3. 3

    What is needed to reduce gamma radiation to a safe level?

    Model answer

    Several centimetres of lead or a thick wall of concrete, and even then it is only reduced rather than stopped completely.

  4. 4

    Which of the three radiations is the most penetrating?

    Model answer

    Gamma radiation is the most penetrating.

  5. 5

    Which of the three radiations is the least penetrating?

    Model answer

    Alpha radiation is the least penetrating.

  6. 6

    Which of the three radiations is the most strongly ionising?

    Model answer

    Alpha radiation is the most strongly ionising.

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AGamma radiation is the most penetrating.
BAlpha radiation is the least penetrating.
CAlpha radiation is the most strongly ionising.

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