5.3.1
Three Types of Emission
Three Types of Nuclear Emission
Three Types of Nuclear Emission
Alpha, beta and gamma radiation all have different properties.


Alpha radiation
Alpha radiation
- Each alpha particle contains two protons and two neutrons.
- Because of this, alpha particles have a relative mass of 4.
- Because the particles are big and heavy, alpha radiation is strongly ionising.
- It does a lot of damage, but is stopped by a small amount of matter (like paper).


Beta radiation
Beta radiation
- Beta radiation is made up of high-energy electrons.
- Beta radiation is more ionising than gamma radiation, but less ionising than alpha radiation.
- It can pass through paper, but is stopped by aluminium foil.


Gamma radiation
Gamma radiation
- Gamma radiation is weakly ionising.
- It does less damage than beta or alpha radiation, but it is stopped only by centimetres of lead or concrete.
1Motion, Forces & Energy
1.1Physical Quantities & Measurement Techniques
1.2Motion
1.2.1Average Speed
1.2.2Calculating Average Speed
1.2.3Velocity
1.2.4Acceleration
1.2.5Distance-Time Graphs
1.2.6Speed-Time Graphs
1.2.7More Speed-Time Graphs
1.2.8Calculating Uniform Acceleration
1.2.9Gravity
1.2.10Free Fall - Distance-Time & Speed-Time Graphs
1.2.11Air Resistance
1.2.12Air Resistance - Graphs
1.2.13Optional: Calculating Acceleration
1.3Mass & Weight
1.5Forces: Effects of Forces
1.6Forces: Turning Effects of Forces
1.7Forces: Centre of Gravity
1.8Momentum
1.9Energy, Work, & Power: Energy
1.10Energy, Work & Power: Work
1.11Energy, Work & Power: Energy Resources
1.12Energy, Work & Power: Power
2Thermal Physics
2.1Kinetic Particle Model of Matter
2.2Thermal Properties & Temperature
3Waves
3.1General Properties of Waves
3.2Light: Reflection & Refraction
3.3Light: Thin Lenses
3.4Light: Dispersion of Light
3.5Electromagnetic Spectrum
4Electricity & Magnetism
4.1Simple Phenomena of Magnetism
4.2Electrical Quantities: Electric Charge
4.3Electrical Quantities: Electric Current
4.4Electromotive Force & Potential Difference
4.5Electrical Quantities: Resistance
4.6Electrical Energy & Electrical Power
4.7Electric Circuits: Circuit Diagrams & Components
4.8Electric Circuits: Series & Parallel Circuits
4.9Electric Circuits: Action & Use
4.10Electrical Safety
4.11Electromagnetic Effects: Electromagnetic Induction
4.12Electromagnetic Effects: The A.C. Generator
4.13Magnetic Effect of a Current
4.14Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor
4.15Electromagnetic Effects: The D.C. Motor
4.16Electromagnetic Effects: The Transformer
5Nuclear Physics
5.1The Nuclear Model of the Atom
5.2Radioactivity: Detection of Radioactivity
5.3Radioactivity: The Three Types of Nuclear Emission
6Space Physics
6.1The Earth & the Solar System
Jump to other topics
1Motion, Forces & Energy
1.1Physical Quantities & Measurement Techniques
1.2Motion
1.2.1Average Speed
1.2.2Calculating Average Speed
1.2.3Velocity
1.2.4Acceleration
1.2.5Distance-Time Graphs
1.2.6Speed-Time Graphs
1.2.7More Speed-Time Graphs
1.2.8Calculating Uniform Acceleration
1.2.9Gravity
1.2.10Free Fall - Distance-Time & Speed-Time Graphs
1.2.11Air Resistance
1.2.12Air Resistance - Graphs
1.2.13Optional: Calculating Acceleration
1.3Mass & Weight
1.5Forces: Effects of Forces
1.6Forces: Turning Effects of Forces
1.7Forces: Centre of Gravity
1.8Momentum
1.9Energy, Work, & Power: Energy
1.10Energy, Work & Power: Work
1.11Energy, Work & Power: Energy Resources
1.12Energy, Work & Power: Power
2Thermal Physics
2.1Kinetic Particle Model of Matter
2.2Thermal Properties & Temperature
3Waves
3.1General Properties of Waves
3.2Light: Reflection & Refraction
3.3Light: Thin Lenses
3.4Light: Dispersion of Light
3.5Electromagnetic Spectrum
4Electricity & Magnetism
4.1Simple Phenomena of Magnetism
4.2Electrical Quantities: Electric Charge
4.3Electrical Quantities: Electric Current
4.4Electromotive Force & Potential Difference
4.5Electrical Quantities: Resistance
4.6Electrical Energy & Electrical Power
4.7Electric Circuits: Circuit Diagrams & Components
4.8Electric Circuits: Series & Parallel Circuits
4.9Electric Circuits: Action & Use
4.10Electrical Safety
4.11Electromagnetic Effects: Electromagnetic Induction
4.12Electromagnetic Effects: The A.C. Generator
4.13Magnetic Effect of a Current
4.14Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor
4.15Electromagnetic Effects: The D.C. Motor
4.16Electromagnetic Effects: The Transformer
5Nuclear Physics
5.1The Nuclear Model of the Atom
5.2Radioactivity: Detection of Radioactivity
5.3Radioactivity: The Three Types of Nuclear Emission
6Space Physics
6.1The Earth & the Solar System
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