Properties and uses of alpha,beta and gamma rays

Nature of radiation

In order to study the nature of the radiation,a piece of a radioactive element,such as radium,is placed at the
bottom of a small hole drilled in a led block.

The emitted radiations pass through the hole and enter a vacuum chamber in which a magnetic field is applied
perpendicular to the plane of the paper directed away from the reader.The radiations are deflected by the
magnetic field and forms three separate images on the photographic plate placed above the hole in the chamber.

The radiations deflected towards left are positively charged and given the name of rays.The radiations deflected
towards right are negatively charged and given the name of rays.The rays which are not deflected by the
magnetic field have no charge and are called rays.Hence three types of radiations as mentioned above,are
emitted by radioactive elements but an atom can never emit and rays simultaneously.

Properties of (alpha) -rays

They affect the photographic plate.

The alpha rays are shot out from the radioactive material with large velocities.The velocities of alpha particles
depends upon the radioactive substance is always the same.
They have low penetrating power.
These rays are deflected by electric and magnetic field showing that they are charged particles.The direction of
their deflection shows that they consists of positively charged particles,each particle has charge +2e.
When exposed to alpha rays the body suffers incurable burns.
They produce alpha heating effect.
alpha rays have very high ionizing power.
 By measuring e/m it has been found that alpha rays consists of helium nuclei.
When an alpha particle is emitted from a radioactive substance the charge number (z) and mass number (A) both
change.
They produce florescence in substance like zinc Sulphide.

Properties of beta rays (-rays)

They affect a photographic plate and their effect is greater than those of -particles.
They produce flourescene in barium platino cyanide etc.
They are affect by electric and magnetic fields.Their direction of deflection indicates that they are negatively
charged particles.
By measuring e/m it has been found that beta rays consists of fast moving electrons.
They can ionize the gasses but their ionizing power is much less than that of alpha rays.
They can penetrate through large thickness of matter.
Beta rays are shot out from radioactive substances with very high velocities ranging from 1 % to 99 % of the
velocity of light.
When a beta particle is emitted from a radioactive substance ,the charge number changes but there is no change
in mass number with emission of a beta particle one of the neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton.

Properties of gamma rays

They have high power of penetration and can pass easily through 30 cm thickness of iron.
They are diffracted by crystals just x-rays.
They posses the same velocity as that of light.
They ionize the gas through which they pass but the ionization produced is very small.
They affect a photographic plate and their effect is greater than that of beta rays.
They produce flourescene in barium platino cyanide.
They are not affected by electric and magnetic fields.
When a nucleus emits gamma rays its charge number nor its mass number changes.

TYPES OF RADIO ACTIVE

RAYS
There are three types of radioactive rays:
-Rays
-RAYS
-RAYS

PROPERTIES OF -RAYS
NATURE: rays consist of particle. Each particle consists of 2He4
nucleus.
CHARGE: particle carry positive charge.
MASS: Mass of each - particle is 4 times that of a proton or H-atom.

IONIZATION: Ionization power of rays is very high.

PENETRATION POWER: Penetration power of rays is very small.
FLUORESCENCE: rays produce fluorescence in different substances.
EFFECT ON HUMAN BODY: rays produce burn and source on human
body.
ARTIFICIAL RADIO ACTIVITY: rays can produce artificial
radioactivity is certain nuclei.
IONIZATION CAPABILITY : They have strong ionizing power because
they remove electrons from the atoms of gas through which they pass.
VELOCITY: Their velocity range is 3 x 107 m/s to 3 x 106 m/s.

PROPERTIES OF -RAYS
NATURE: rays consist of fast moving electrons.
CHARGE: rays have negative charge.
VELOCITY: Velocity of rays is from 9 x 107 m/sec to 27 x 107 m/sec.
EFFECT ON PHOTO GRAPHIC PLATE:rays affect the photo graphic
plate.
IONIZTION POWER: Ionization power of rays is very small.
KINETIC ENERGY: Kinetic energy of rays is less than that of -
rays.
FLUORESCENCE: rays produce fluorescence in different substance.
PROPERTIES OF -RAYS
NATURE: rays are electromagnetic radiations.
CHARGE: - rays are no charge.
VELOCITY: - rays travel with the velocity of light that is 3 x 108 m/sec.
PENETRATION POWER: Penetration power of - rays is very large. It
is about hundred times larger than that of rays.
FLUORESCENCE: - rays produce feeble fluorescence When incident on
screen coated with barium platino cyanide.