Alpha, Beta & Gamma Radiation (AQA A Level Physics)

Alpha, Beta & Gamma Radiation

• Some isotopes of elements are unstable

  • This is usually due to an imbalance of protons and neutrons in a nucleus

• To become more stable, a nucleus can emit particles or radiation by the process of radioactive decay

• The three main types of radioactive particle or radiation are:

  • Alpha particles

  • Beta particles

  • Gamma radiation

Alpha Particles

• An alpha (α) particle is a high-energy helium nucleus

  • It contains 2 protons and 2 neutrons

  • It has a mass of 4u and a charge of +2e

• Alpha particles are usually emitted from nuclei that are too large

• The nuclear notation for an alpha particle is:

Nuclear notation for an alpha particle (a helium nucleus)

• Alpha particles are the most ionising type of radiation

  • This is due to having the highest charge of +2e

  • They produce the highest number of ion pairs per cm in air (~10 000 ion pairs per cm)

  • This means they can do more damage to cells than the other types of radiation

• Alpha particles are the least penetrating type of radiation

  • This means they travel the shortest distance in air before being absorbed

  • They have a range of around 3 to 7 cm in air

Beta Particles

• A beta-minus (β⁻) particle is a high-energy electron

  • They are emitted by nuclei that have too many neutrons

• A beta-plus (β⁺) particle is a high-energy positron (antimatter of electrons)

  • They are emitted by nuclei that have too many protons

• The nuclear notation for beta-minus and beta-plus particles are:

Nuclear notation for beta minus and beta plus particle

• Beta particles are a moderately ionising type of radiation

  • This is due to having a charge of ±1e

  • They produce a moderate number of ion pairs per cm in air (~100 ion pairs per cm)

  • This means they can do some slight damage to cells (less than alpha but more than gamma)

• Beta particles are a moderately penetrating type of radiation

  • They have a range of around 20 cm to 3 m in air, depending on their energy

Gamma Radiation

• Gamma (γ) rays are a type of high-energy electromagnetic radiation

• They are emitted by nuclei that need to lose some energy

• The nuclear notation for gamma radiation is:

Nuclear notation for gamma rays

• Gamma is the least ionising type of radiation

  • This is because it is electromagnetic radiation (photon), which has no charge

  • Gamma produces the lowest number of ion pairs per cm in air (~1 ion-pair per cm)

  • It can still cause damage to cells, but not as much as alpha or beta radiation. This is why it is widely used for cancer radiotherapy

• Gamma is the most penetrating type of radiation

  • This means it travels the furthest distance in air before being absorbed

  • Gamma radiation has an infinite range and follows an inverse square law

Comparing Alpha, Beta & Gamma

• The properties of the different types of radiation are summarised in the table below:

Comparison of alpha, beta and gamma radiation

Ionising ability

• If any type of radiation collides with an atom, it can knock out electrons, ionising the atom

  • This can cause chemical changes in materials and damage to living cells

• The ionising ability of radiation can be quantified by the number of ion pairs it produces per cm of air

  • Alpha particles are the most ionising type of radiation, while gamma radiation is the least ionising type of radiation

When radiation passes close to atoms, it can knock out electrons, ionising the atom

Penetrating power

• The distance radiation can travel before being absorbed is described by its penetrating power

  • Alpha particles are the least penetrating, whereas gamma radiation is the most penetrating

• Alpha particles can be stopped by a single sheet of paper

• Beta particles can be stopped by a few millimetres of aluminium foil

• The intensity of gamma radiation can be reduced by several metres of concrete or several centimetres of lead

Alpha particles are highly ionising and easily absorbed by atoms whereas gamma radiation is highly penetrating and requires very thick lead to reduce its intensity

Deflection in Electric and Magnetic Fields

• When a charged particle enters an electric field it will undergo a deflection

  • Alpha particles are deflected towards the negative plate

  • Beta particles are deflected towards the positive plate

  • Gamma radiation is not deflected and travels straight through between the plates

Alpha and beta particles are deflected by an electric field

• When a charged particle moves in a magnetic field, it will also undergo a deflection

• Faster-moving particles move in larger circular paths according to the equation:

• The larger the circular path, the greater the deflection

• The amount of deflection of a particle depends on:

  • The speed of the particle, v

  • The mass of the particle, m

  • The charge on the particle, q

• Alpha particles can be deflected slightly in strong electric and magnetic fields

  • Alpha particles have the highest charge, but also the greatest mass, so their high momentum means they deflect less than a beta particle (in a given field)

• Beta particles can be deflected through large angles by electric and magnetic fields

  • Beta particles typically travel at much greater speeds than alpha particles, but have much less mass, so they deflect significantly more than an alpha particle (in a given field)

• Gamma rays are not deflected in magnetic and electric fields as they are electrically neutral

  • However, they can transfer their energy to atomic electrons which can be deflected

Applications of Alpha, Beta & Gamma

Smoke Detectors

• Smoke detectors contain a small amount of Americium-241, which is a weak alpha source

• Within the detector, alpha particles are emitted and cause the ionisation of nitrogen and oxygen molecules in the air

• These ionised molecules enable the air to conduct electricity and hence a small current can flow

• If smoke enters the alarm, it absorbs the alpha particles, hence reducing the current which causes the alarm to sound

• Am-241 has a half-life of 460 years, meaning over the course of a lifetime, the activity of the source will not decrease significantly and it will not have to be replaced

The operation of a smoke detector

Thickness Controls

• Beta radiation can be used to determine the thickness of aluminium foil, paper, plastic, and steel

• The thickness can be controlled by measuring how much beta radiation passes through the material to a Geiger counter

• Beta radiation must be used, because:

  • Alpha particles would be absorbed by all the materials

  • Gamma radiation would pass through undetected through the materials

• The Geiger counter controls the pressure of the rollers to maintain the correct thickness

• A source with a long half-life must be chosen so that it does not need to be replaced often

The pressure of the rollers can be adjusted to control the thickness of the aluminium foil depending on the amount of beta radiation detected