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Alpha, Beta, Gamma

Total questions: 12

Worksheet time: 6mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What are alpha particles?

a)

Ionised molecules

b)

Helium nuclei

c)

Heavy atoms

d)

Particles similar to beta particles

2.

How do alpha particles travel?

a)

In curved paths

b)

With similar velocities

c)

With different velocities

d)

Towards a positively charged plate

3.

Why do alphas have a short range in air?

a)

Because they are ions

b)

Because they are heavy

c)

Because they easily collide with other molecules

d)

Because they possess kinetic energy

4.

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

a)

they are positively charged

b)

they are negatively charged

c)

they possess a lot of kinetic energy

d)

air molecules are moving about

5.

What is the main difference between alpha and beta particles?

a)

Their production

b)

Their effects on air molecules

c)

Their charge

d)

Their direction of travel

6.

Beta particles are best described as

a)

electrons

b)

unstable particles from a nucleus

c)

neutrons

d)

a fraction of a proton

7.

How do beta particles travel?

a)

In curved paths

b)

With alpha particles

c)

Towards a positively charged surface

d)

With velocities the same as light

8.

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

a)

thick paper

b)

thick aluminium

c)

air molecules

d)

alpha particles

9.

Beta particles are poor ionisers because...

a)

they carry a negative charge

b)

they move at high velocity

c)

they come from a decaying nucleus

d)

they possess little mass

10.

Which is not a property of beta particles?

a)

They are absorbed by liquids

b)

They penetrate thin metals

c)

They are negatively charged

d)

They travel in air in straight lines

11.

Gamma radiation is best described as

a)

the release of energy from rocks

b)

the result of nuclear disintegrations

c)

electromagnetic waves of high frequency

d)

electromagnetic waves of low frequency

12.

For gamma radiation to be shielded economically, which would be best? And why?

a)

Thick concrete, because it's cheap

b)

Thick concrete, because it's dense

c)

Lead because it's heavy

d)

Lead because it's light