| explain why alpha particles and beta particles have different penetrating powers. | alpha particles have heavy mass and higher charge, means they cause more ionisation, energy lost from ionisation means alpha cant pentrate as far, also the alpha particles are more likely to collide with atoms as they are bigger |
| what is ionising radiation | random process, either alpha, beta or gamma is given off |
| what happens in alpha decay | 2 neutrons and 2 proteons are emitted |
| what happens in alpha decay | decreases by 4 |
| what happens in alpha decay | decreases by 2 |
| what happens in beta decay | neutrons turn into protons and stays in the nucleus, an electron is emmited |
| what happens in beta decay | unchanged |
| what happens in beta decay | proton number increases by 1 |
| what particle has the most ionising power | alpha |
| what particle has the least ionising power | gamma |
| what is alpha stopped by | air, range of 5 - 10cm |
| what is beta stopped by | alluminium foil, range of metres |
| what is gamma stopped by | several cm of lead or several m of concrete, infitnte range in air |
| when is gamma emmited | after the emission of alpha and beta |
| nature of radioactive emission | happens randomly, cant predict decay or direction, unaffected by temprature change |
| explain why alpha particles and beta particles have different penetrating powers. | alpha particles have heavy mass and higher charge, means they cause more ionisation, energy lost from ionisation means alpha cant pentrate as far, also the alpha particles are more likely to collide with atoms as they are bigger |
