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One isotope of uranium is U-235 - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 5 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 5
One isotope of uranium is U-235. The nucleus can be represented as \(^{235}_{92}U\). Complete the following sentence. A nucleus of U-235 contains __________ proto... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:One isotope of uranium is U-235 - Edexcel - GCSE Physics - Question 5 - 2017 - Paper 1
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Describe the ionising and penetrating abilities of alpha particles.
Answer
Alpha particles are known for their strong ionising ability. They can produce many ions or ion pairs in a short distance, typically within just a few centimeters of air. This is due to their relatively large mass and charge, making them quite effective in colliding with other matter.
However, alpha particles have low penetrating power. They can be effectively stopped by just a sheet of paper and cannot travel far in air, only about a few centimeters before losing their energy. They do not penetrate materials deeply and can be absorbed by even a thin layer of skin.