GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

GK

NUCLEAR SCIENCE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What type of radiation has a negligible mass and consists of high energy radiation?
A
alpha
B
beta
C
gamma
D
all of the above
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Gamma radiation, unlike alpha or beta, does not consist of any particles, instead consisting of a photon of energy being emitted from an unstable nucleus. Having no mass or charge, gamma radiation can travel much farther through air than alpha or beta, losing (on average) half its energy for every 500 feet.

Detailed explanation-2: -Gamma rays () are weightless packets of energy called photons. Unlike alpha and beta particles, which have both energy and mass, gamma rays are pure energy. Gamma rays are similar to visible light, but have much higher energy. Gamma rays are often emitted along with alpha or beta particles during radioactive decay.

Detailed explanation-3: -Beta particles are capable of penetrating the skin and causing radiation damage, such as skin burns. As with alpha emitters, beta emitters are most hazardous when they are inhaled or swallowed or absorbed into the blood stream through wounds. Gamma rays and X-rays: Gamma rays and X-rays are penetrating.

Detailed explanation-4: -Gamma rays are neutral, while alpha particles have a positive charge and beta particles have a negative charge. Two protons and two neutrons are bound together to form an alpha particle. High-energy electrons are known as beta particles. Gamma rays are photons, which are electromagnetic energy waves.

Detailed explanation-5: -A gamma ray is electromagnetic radiation of the shortest wavelength and highest energy. Gamma-ray radiation has wavelengths generally smaller than a few tenths of an angstrom (10−10 meter), and gamma-ray photons have energies greater than tens of thousands of electron volts.

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