Alpha, Beta, Gamma

What are alpha particles?

• Ionised molecules

• Helium nuclei

• Heavy atoms

• Particles similar to beta particles

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

How do alpha particles travel?

• In curved paths

• With similar velocities

• With different velocities

• Towards a positively charged plate

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS2-4

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

Why do alphas have a short range in air?

• Because they are ions

• Because they are heavy

• Because they easily collide with other molecules

• Because they possess kinetic energy

Alpha particles are likely to ionise air molecules when they collide with them because...

• they are positively charged

• they are negatively charged

• they possess a lot of kinetic energy

• air molecules are moving about

What is the main difference between alpha and beta particles?

• Their production

• Their effects on air molecules

• Their charge

• Their direction of travel

Beta particles are best described as

• electrons

• unstable particles from a nucleus

• neutrons

• a fraction of a proton

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS1-8

How do beta particles travel?

• In curved paths

• With alpha particles

• Towards a positively charged surface

• With velocities the same as light

Beta particles are best stopped by a barrier of...

• thick paper

• thick aluminium

• air molecules

• alpha particles

Beta particles are poor ionisers because...

• they carry a negative charge

• they move at high velocity

• they come from a decaying nucleus

• they possess little mass

Which is not a property of beta particles?

• They are absorbed by liquids

• They penetrate thin metals

• They are negatively charged

• They travel in air in straight lines