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Types of Nuclear Radiation Explained

Nuclear radiations are energies or particles emitted from unstable atomic nuclei, primarily consisting of alpha, beta, and gamma rays. Alpha radiation consists of heavy, positively charged particles with high ionizing power but low penetrating ability, while beta radiation involves fast-moving electrons or positrons with moderate ionizing and penetrating power. Gamma radiation consists of high-energy electromagnetic waves with very high penetrating power but low ionizing ability, and each type has distinct biological effects and applications in fields like medicine and research.

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58 views7 pages

Types of Nuclear Radiation Explained

Nuclear radiations are energies or particles emitted from unstable atomic nuclei, primarily consisting of alpha, beta, and gamma rays. Alpha radiation consists of heavy, positively charged particles with high ionizing power but low penetrating ability, while beta radiation involves fast-moving electrons or positrons with moderate ionizing and penetrating power. Gamma radiation consists of high-energy electromagnetic waves with very high penetrating power but low ionizing ability, and each type has distinct biological effects and applications in fields like medicine and research.

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Dua Eiman
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NUCLEAR RADIATIONS

Nuclear radiations are energies or particles emitted from the nucleus of an unstable atom
to attain stability.​
The three main types are:

1.​ Alpha (α) rays​

2.​ Beta (β) rays​

3.​ Gamma (γ) rays​

1. ALPHA (α) RADIATION


Definition

Alpha radiation consists of alpha particles, which are helium nuclei containing:

●​ 2 protons​

●​ 2 neutrons​

●​ Charge = +2​

●​ Mass = 4 amu​

Nature

●​ Heavy and positively charged particles​

●​ Emitted by heavy radioactive nuclei (e.g., Uranium, Radium)​

Speed

●​ Relatively slow (~1/10th speed of light)​


Penetrating Power

●​ Very low​

●​ Stopped by:​

○​ Paper​

○​ Skin​

○​ A few centimeters of air​

Ionizing Power

●​ Very high​

●​ Causes intense ionization in a short distance​

Effect on Nucleus

When an alpha particle is emitted:

●​ Atomic number ↓ by 2​

●​ Mass number ↓ by 4​

Example:

238
92 U→90234Th+α
Biological Effect

●​ Harmless externally​

●​ Very dangerous internally (if inhaled or ingested)​

Uses

●​ Smoke detectors​

●​ Cancer therapy (targeted alpha therapy)​


●​ Research​

2. BETA (β) RADIATION


Definition

Beta radiation consists of fast-moving electrons or positrons emitted from the nucleus.

Types of Beta Rays

1.​ Beta minus (β⁻) → electron emission​

2.​ Beta plus (β⁺) → positron emission​

(a) Beta Minus (β⁻) Decay

●​ Neutron → Proton + Electron + Antineutrino​

N→p+e−+νˉ
Effect on nucleus:

●​ Atomic number ↑ by 1​

●​ Mass number remains same​

Nature

●​ Light, negatively charged particles​

●​ Mass ≈ 1/1836 of proton​

Speed
●​ Very fast (close to speed of light)​

Penetrating Power

●​ Moderate​

●​ Stopped by:​

○​ Thin aluminum sheet​

○​ Plastic​

Ionizing Power

●​ Moderate (less than alpha, more than gamma)​

Biological Effect

●​ Can cause skin burns​

●​ Dangerous if source is internal​

Uses

●​ Thickness measurement (paper, plastic)​

●​ Tracers in medicine​

●​ Cancer treatment (beta therapy)​

3. GAMMA (γ) RADIATION


Definition

Gamma rays are high-energy electromagnetic waves emitted from the nucleus.

Nature
●​ No mass​

●​ No charge​

●​ Pure energy (photons)​

Speed

●​ Travel at the speed of light​

Penetrating Power

●​ Very high​

●​ Can pass through:​

○​ Human body​

○​ Thick concrete​

●​ Stopped by:​

○​ Lead​

○​ Thick concrete​

Ionizing Power

●​ Low per interaction​

●​ But highly penetrating → dangerous overall​

Effect on Nucleus

●​ No change in atomic number or mass number​

●​ Nucleus only loses excess energy​

Biological Effect
●​ Damages tissues and DNA​

●​ Can cause cancer at high doses​

Uses

●​ Radiotherapy (cancer treatment)​

●​ Sterilization of medical equipment​

●​ Nuclear medicine imaging​

●​ Industrial radiography​

COMPARISON TABLE
Property Alpha (α) Beta (β) Gamma (γ)

Nature He Electron/positron EM wave


nucleus

Charge +2 −1 / +1 0

Mass Heavy Very small None

Speed Slow Fast Speed of light

Penetratio Very low Moderate Very high


n

Ionization Very high Moderate Low

Shielding Paper/skin Aluminum Lead/concret


e

ORDER OF RADIATIONS
●​ Penetrating power:
●​ γ>β>α
Ionizing power:​

α>β>γ

IMPORTANT EXAM POINTS


●​ Alpha particles cause maximum biological damage if internal​

●​ Gamma rays are most useful in deep-seated tumor radiotherapy​

●​ Shielding depends on type of radiation​

●​ All nuclear radiations originate from the nucleus, not electrons​

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