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JEE Main 2026 Preparation: Question Papers, Solutions, Mock Tests & Strategy Unacademy » JEE Study Material » Physics » Properties of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Particles/Rays

Properties of Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Particles/Rays

Learn more about the properties of alpha, beta, and gamma particles and rays through examples and demonstration

Table of Content
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Introduction

An alpha ray is a beam of alpha particles. An alpha molecule comprises two protons and two neutrons bound into a molecule indistinguishable from a helium core. It is radioactive. Like helium cores, Alpha particles have no net twist.

A beta molecule, also known as beta ray as well as beta radiation is a high-velocity electron or positron discharged by the radioactive decay of a nuclear core during beta decay. There are two types of beta decay, β− decay and β+ decay, which produce electrons and positrons individually.

A gamma-ray () is a parcel of electromagnetic energy (photon) discharged by the core of some radionuclides following radioactive decay. Gamma photons are the most energetic photons in the electromagnetic range.

Body

Radioactivity is essentially the nuclei deterioration process. It refers to the unconstrained breaking down of the unstable nuclear nuclei. This cycle is called radioactivity. The process prompts the emanation of radiation – called energy and particles. There might be two kinds of radioactivity – radioactivity that is regular or prompted.

Regular Radioactivity: It is called normal radioactivity when unstable cores separate in nature.

Prompted Radioactivity: As the name proposes, the disintegration is called incited radioactivity when temperamental nuclei are ready in the lab.

Law of Radioactive Decay: Radioactive decay law accommodates how reducing the quantity of non-rotted cores of a given radioactive substance happens over the long haul. It can likewise be expressed, at the end of the day, as the quantity of particles decaying each second at any second is straightforwardly relative to the quantity of radioactive particles present in the sample at that point.

 

Let No be the complete number of molecules at t = 0, N is the absolute number of particles left in the sample at time t, then, at that point, dN/dt will be the rate of deterioration.

Radioactive Half-Life:

The half-life for a given radioisotope is the time during which half of the sample undergoes radioactive decay. The remaining part will be one-fourth of the first sample after two half-lives. Also, after three half lives, one-eighth of the sample remains, etc. 

As such, radioactivity can likewise be characterized as the time interval needed to decay a big part of a radioactive sample’s nuclear cores or the time required to diminish by a large portion of the number of deterioration each second of radioactive material. 

This decay of the radioactive substance is founded on probability. 

 

Average Life or Mean Life

In a given sample, there is no deterioration of all particles together. In the earliest reference point, a few particles might deteriorate for which lifetime is zero. Their lifetime might shift from zero to limitlessness because of molecules that deteriorate between them. The complete lifetime of all the component atoms separated by the absolute number of molecules initially present in the component’s sample is the Mean life.

 

Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Rays

Alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays are the beams transmitted during a substance’s radioactivity. We will presently talk about the properties of the multitude of three individually.

Alpha Radiation

Alpha rays are the radiation that is positively charged. An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, indicated by the sign α. The alpha particle is a helium particle that has lost two electrons and has a + 2e charge. Its weight is multiple times that of an atom of hydrogen. It at first escapes from its parent atom’s core and is additionally repulsed by electromagnetism as both the alpha particles and the core are charged positively. The speed of α-particles goes from 5% to 7% of the light speed. They have almost no ability to infiltrate into a material medium, yet they can ionize extremely high. These beams are enormous compared to the beta rays, and they contain a surge of decidedly charged particles, called alpha particles, which have a nuclear mass of 4 and a positive charge of 2 (a helium core). The outflow from the nuclei of an alpha molecule diminishes the core mass number by four, and the nuclear number declines by 2. As in the response, the alpha molecule is the helium nucleus.

The alpha radiation consists of two neutrons and two protons attached to a helium atom’s nucleus. These particles have an extraordinary ionizing power which implies that they can cause transformations when they come into contact with the iotas of living tissue, and now and again, such responses can even prompt malignant growth. Despite their high ionization power, these beams are not extremely unsafe. These are, indeed, the most un-risky of the three beams as long as they are not breathed in. A couple of centimeters of air can prevent alpha rays from infiltrating through the skin. Particles with alpha rays have minimal ability to enter. They can’t travel exceptionally far in the air, and they can’t traverse a piece of paper. They simply find and join two electrons to turn into an atom of helium before they can bring about any damage. In any case, it doesn’t suggest that they are not risky. When breathed in, they are very hazardous. They adhere to the lungs whenever breathed in and can turn into a reason for the cellular breakdown in the lungs.

 

Beta Radiation: 

Beta radiation comprises a flood of electrons named beta particles. β – particles are electrons moving at high rates. They have more special penetrating power (in correlation with α-particles) yet less ionizing power. Their speed of outflow is practically the speed of light. They have a range of energy instead of α-particles. For example, beta particles have energy from a specific least to the greatest worth. A β-molecule is typically an electron, yet it tends to be a positron. A positron is an emphatically charged molecule that could be compared to an electron. On the discharge of a beta molecule, a neutron in the core gets changed over to a proton. Henceforth, the mass number of remaining parts is unaltered; however, the nuclear number increments by one unit. The most well-known illustration of beta emanation is the debasement of radioactive copper which in the wake of radiating one electron leaves behind a nickel atom: 

Beta decay happens in two sorts: positive β+ decay and the other is β- decay. β-  emanation happens when one core neutron is changed into a proton, an electron, and an antineutrino. The splitting comes about because atomic reactors or by-items experience β- decay as the subsequent item has an overabundance of neutrons. β+ degeneration is a comparative cycle. However, it includes the change of a proton into a neutron, positron, and neutrino. Beta rays comprise electrons of high energy. They are less ionizing than alpha rays, yet they are more destructive as they infiltrate the skin. With an aluminum sheet, they can be halted.

 

Gamma Radiation: 

Gamma rays contain ~10-12 m frequency electromagnetic waves. Gamma radiation is an exceptionally incredible photon with an extremely short frequency (0.0005 to 0.1 nm). Gamma discharges frequently go with alpha and beta emanations as an energized core falls into a lower and more steady energy condition. Gamma rays are high recurrence electromagnetic waves without mass and charge. This radioactive outflow has the minimal force of ionization. These are transmitted because of the change from a higher energy state to bring down the energy condition of the energized core. When an alpha or beta decay happens in a core, overabundance energy is regularly left in an invigorated state.

Similarly, as an electron can move to a lower energy state by producing a photon to an infrared reach someplace in the bright reach, transmitting gamma rays, a nuclear core loses energy. The entrancing power is the most noteworthy for gamma rays. They have minimal ability to ionize any material. However, they are the riskiest. Gamma rays have the most extraordinary infiltrating power, and a couple of centimeters of lead sheet or a couple of meters of cement can stop them. In specific cases, they might even go through them.

Conclusion

Alpha rays are the radiation that is positively charged. An alpha particle is a helium nucleus, indicated by the sign α. The alpha particle is a helium particle that has lost two electrons and has a + 2e charge. Beta rays comprise electrons of high energy. They are less ionizing than alpha rays, yet they are more destructive as they infiltrate the skin. With an aluminum sheet, they can be halted. Gamma rays are high recurrence electromagnetic waves without mass and charge. This radioactive outflow has the minimal force of ionization.

faq

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the IIT JEE Examination Preparation.

What is an alpha ray made of?

Ans. Alpha particles (α) are emphatically energized and made of two protons and two neutrons from the atom’s core. Alpha pa...Read full

What are beta rays otherwise called?

Ans. A beta molecule likewise called beta rays or beta radiation , is a high-energy, fast electron or positron produced by the rad...Read full

Who found gamma rays?

Ans. Paul Villard found the gamma rays.

Ans. Alpha particles (α) are emphatically energized and made of two protons and two neutrons from the atom’s core. Alpha particles come from the decay of the heaviest radioactive components, like uranium, radium, and polonium.

Ans. A beta molecule likewise called beta rays or beta radiation , is a high-energy, fast electron or positron produced by the radioactive rot of a nuclear core during beta rays. There are two types of beta rays, β− rays and β+ rays, which produce electrons and positrons individually.

Ans. Paul Villard found the gamma rays.

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