Properties of Radiation Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Which of alpha, beta and gamma radiation is the most ionising?

Alpha.

Which of alpha, beta and gamma radiation is the most penetrating?

Gamma.

What absorber stops alpha radiation?

A sheet of paper (or a few centimetres of air).

What absorber stops beta radiation?

A few millimetres of aluminium.

What absorber is needed to reduce gamma radiation?

Thick lead or several metres of concrete – it is only reduced, never completely stopped.

True or false? Gamma radiation is the most ionising of the three radiations.

False. Gamma is the least ionising but the most penetrating; alpha is the most ionising.