Alpha, beta and gamma are types of ionising radiation - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2013 - Paper 1
Question 6
Alpha, beta and gamma are types of ionising radiation.
(a) State two ways in which gamma radiation is different from alpha radiation.
(b) (i) Complete the sentence... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Alpha, beta and gamma are types of ionising radiation - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 6 - 2013 - Paper 1
Step 1
State two ways in which gamma radiation is different from alpha radiation.
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Answer
Gamma radiation has no mass and no charge, whereas alpha radiation consists of helium nuclei which have mass and are positively charged.
Gamma radiation is more penetrating than alpha radiation; it can pass through materials more easily.
Step 2
Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer.
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Answer
A beta particle is emitted by D an unstable nucleus.
Step 3
Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer.
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Answer
A beta particle has an identical charge to B an electron.
Step 4
Explain how an atom becomes ionised by radiation.
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Answer
An atom becomes ionised by radiation when it absorbs energy from ionising radiation, which can be alpha, beta, or gamma radiation. This energy can knock out electrons from the atom, resulting in a positively charged ion.
Step 5
Explain why the readings in the three directions are different.
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The readings differ due to the varying penetrating abilities of different types of radiation and the shielding provided by the camera lens. From the front of the lens,
the gamma rays pass through without much absorption, thus a higher count.
Beta particles emitted from the rear surface detect significant counts due to their ability to penetrate glass. From the side,
alpha particles cannot penetrate the aluminum and are blocked, leading to much lower counts. Background radiation can also contribute to variations in readings.
