Ionising radiation pt 2

You need to be able to balance nuclear equations
1. You can right alpha and beta radioactive decay as nuclear equations.
2. Watch out for the atomic number - they have to balance up on both sides.
3. For example Uranium-238 decays to for Thorium-234 by emitting a alpha particle and a gamma ray here's how:
Alpha and beta particles are defected by electric and magnetic fields.
1. Alpha particles have a positive charge, beta particles have a negative charge.
2. When travelling through an electric or magnetic field, both alpha and beta particles will be deflected.
  1. They are deflected in opposite directions because of their opposite charges.
3. Alpha particles have a larger charge than beta particles, and feel a greater force in magnetic and electric fields.
  1. However they are deflected less because they have a greater mass.
4. Gamma radiation is an electromagnetic (EM) wave and has no charge, so it doesn't get deflected by electric or magnetic fields.

Resource summary

	Created by jessica-gollop about 11 years ago