Download Types of radiations transnational 6

Alpha radiations
 Alpha radiations consist of:
-two neutrons
-two protons
 Alpha radiations is changing the original atom to one
of an element with an atomic number 2 less and
atomic weight 4 less than the original atom.
Example of alpha decay
Beta radiations
 Beta radiations take the form of:
-electron
-positron
 The positron has a particle with the size and mass of
an electron, but with a positive charge, emitted from
an atom.
Example of beta decay
Gamma radiations
 Gamma radiations do not consist of any particles. It is
a photon of energy being emitted from an unstable
nucleus.
Example of gamma decay
X-ray radiations
 X-ray radiations are very similar to the gamma
radiations with the difference being that they come
from the electron cloud.
Neutron radiations
 Neutron radiations consist of a free neutron
Differences between alpha,
beta and gamma radiations
 Alpha radiations are the easiest to stop just with a thin
layer of paper.
 Beta radiations can travel a few meters in the air due to
the small mass. It can be stopped by a thick piece of
wood or a stack of paper.
 Gamma waves can be stopped by a thick or dense
enough layer material , with high atomic number
materials such as lead or depleted uranium being the
most effective form of shielding
Stopped by
Alpha radiation
Beta radiation
Gamma radiation
Paper
√
X
X
Wood
√
√
X
Plastic
√
√
X
Aluminium
√
√
X
Lead
√
√
X
Thick lead
√
√
√
Depleted uranium
√
√
√
Deflection in an
magnetic/electric field
 Alpha radiation is attracted by the negative pole
 Beta radiation is attracted by the positive pole
 Gamma radiation is not attracted by any pole
Sources
 https://www.mirion.com/introduction-to-radiation-
safety/types-of-ionizing-radiation/
 https://www.wikimedia.org
 http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/faqs/radiationty
pes.html
A presentation by Razvan, Jannes, Angelica, Svetlozar
This project has been funded with support from the
European Commission.
This publication [communication] reflects the views
only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held
responsible for any use which may be made of the
information contained therein.