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Uses and Properties of Radiation Rays

The document compares α-rays, β-rays, and γ-rays based on their properties such as charge, speed, mass, and ionizing power. α-rays are positively charged helium nuclei with high ionizing power but low penetrating power, while β-rays are negatively charged electrons with moderate ionizing power and greater penetration. γ-rays are electrically neutral electromagnetic radiations with no mass, high penetrating power, and minimal ionizing capability.

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31 views1 page

Uses and Properties of Radiation Rays

The document compares α-rays, β-rays, and γ-rays based on their properties such as charge, speed, mass, and ionizing power. α-rays are positively charged helium nuclei with high ionizing power but low penetrating power, while β-rays are negatively charged electrons with moderate ionizing power and greater penetration. γ-rays are electrically neutral electromagnetic radiations with no mass, high penetrating power, and minimal ionizing capability.

Uploaded by

bye.yebaba098
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Comparison of α-rays, β-rays, and γ-rays

Property α-rays (Alpha rays) β-rays (Beta rays) γ-rays (Gamma


rays)

Nature Positively charged Negatively charged Electrically neutral

Constituents Helium nuclei (2 High energy electrons Electromagnetic


protons and 2 radiations
neutrons)

Speed Nearly 10⁷ m/s About 2.7 × 10⁸ m/s 3 × 10⁸ m/s

Rest mass 4 times the mass of a Equal to the mass of No mass


proton (6.64 × 10⁻²⁷ an electron (9.1 ×
kg) 10⁻³¹ kg)

Charge Positive (+3.2 × 10⁻¹⁹ Negative (-1.6 × 10⁻¹⁹ No charge


C) C)

Specific charge (q/m) 4.83 × 10⁷ C/kg 1.76 × 10¹¹ C/kg Not applicable

Wavelength Not applicable Not applicable 10⁻¹³ m (less than X-


rays)

Effect of electric field Deflects towards the Deflects towards the No effect
negative plate positive plate (more
than α-rays)

Effect of magnetic Less deflected More deflected No effect


field (opposite to α-rays)

Ionizing power Intense (10,000 times High (100 times that Little
that of γ-rays) of γ-rays)

Penetrating power Small (3-8 cm in air) Large (up to a few Very large (up to
metres in air) hundreds of metres in
air)

Stopping substance Thin paper, human 1 mm of lead or 3 mm 30 cm of iron or few


skin of aluminium metres of concrete

Effect on photographic Causes scintillations Same as α-rays Same as α-rays


plate / Fluorescent and affects
screen photographic plates

Biological damage Causes damage; Causes damage; Passes through body,


harmful to humans harmful to humans destroys cells; used to
kill cancer cells

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