Physics > Alpha Beta and Gamma Properties
The following table shows a summary of the properties of alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
| |
Alpha-particle |
Beta-particle |
Gamma-ray |
| Nature |
Helium nucleus (positive particle) approximately 7000x the mass of an electron |
Negative electron |
Electromagnetic waves with very short wavelength |
| Penetration |
Stopped by paper or 6cm of air |
Stopped by 3mm aluminium |
Reduced but not stopped by lead |
| Affected by electric and magnetic fields? |
Yes |
Yes, strongly bent by fields |
No |
| Causes ionisation? |
Strongly |
Weakly |
Very weakly |
| Speed |
10% of speed of light |
50% of speed of light |
Speed of light |
| Detected by |
Cloud chamber,
Spark counter,
Photographic film/plates,
Gold leaf electroscope,
Thin window GM tube
|
Photographic film/plates,
Cloud chamber,
GM tube |
Photographic film/plates,
Cloud chamber,
GM tube |