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 is a wave and has no mass, while alpha radiation is a helium nucleus and has mass. Additionally, gamma radiation is more penetrating than alpha radiation.
Step 2
Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer. A beta particle is emitted by
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Answer
D An unstable nucleus
Step 3
Complete the sentence by putting a cross (X) in the box next to your answer. A beta particle has an identical charge to
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Answer
B An electron
Step 4
Explain how an atom becomes ionised by radiation.
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Answer
An atom becomes ionised when it absorbs energy from incident radiation, which can eject electrons from the atom. This process creates positively charged ions and free electrons.
Step 5
Explain why the readings in the three directions are different.
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The readings differ due to the varying penetration abilities of the different types of radiation. Alpha particles, which are heavy and charged, are stopped by the thick aluminium; hence, no radiation is detected from that direction. Beta particles can penetrate some materials and are absorbed by the glass or the aluminium layer, leading to lower readings. Gamma rays, being highly penetrating, pass through the glass and the aluminium, resulting in the highest counts from the back.
