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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
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Explain why the readings in the three directions are different.
Answer
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.