AL-Kitab University

Engineering Technical College

Types of Radiation

GROUP (D)
Mohammed salh Hassan .1
Ahmed Abdulkareem Nasraldeen .2
 Supervisor
D.R Hazim Abed
There are different types of radiation

Gamma rays and Its energy and the source from which it comes. One of the
features of these rays is their high penetration ability. Alpha particles: These are
helium ions carrying a positive charge, and they result from decomposition, such
as the decomposition of radium, and other radioactive isotopes such as thorium.
These rays have little penetrating ability due to their large mass and positive
charge. Therefore, its radiation danger is low, but it increases when it penetrates
the body through the digestive system, respiratory system, or wounds, as its
radiation spreads throughout the body. Beta rays: They are negatively charged
electrons characterized by their small mass, high energy, and their ability to
penetrate higher than alpha rays, so they are dangerous to the internal organs of a
body and its exterior. They are produced from some radioactive isotopes such as
phosphorus.
A comparison between alpha, beta, and gamma rays. The three
particles, alpha, beta, and gamma, are produced from radioactive
decay. Although these particles share the same goal, which is that they
work on ionization and have penetrating powers, each one of them
carries different proportions, and there are major differences between
them. Alpha rays are expressed by the symbol (α), beta with the
symbol (β), and gamma with the symbol (γ), and the following is a
general comparison between alpha, gamma and beta rays
 In terms of alpha rays beta rays gamma rays
A chemical It consists of A photon
the particle an electron or possesses energy
components identical to a a positron in the form of
helium electromagnetic
nucleus waves
It has a
negative
charge from
It has a the electron (-
It has no charge
positive e) or a positive
the shipment because photons
charge (+ 2e) charge from
are not charged.
on its protons the positron
because it is
the opposite
of the electron
 109 × 10–31
kg. This is
6466 × 10–27
because the
kg. The reason It has no mass
electron and
it has this because the
Bloc the positron
mass is that it photon has no
are opposite
consists of 4 mass
bodies and
nucleons
have the same
mass
Less than beta Its speed is
and gamma almost equal
Speed of rays, as they to the speed Moving with the
spread have a speed of light speed of light.
less than the
speed of light

There are many other differences between alpha, beta, and gamma
rays, and these differences relate to the penetrating power of each of
these rays, the ability of their particles to ionize, and their influence by
the magnetic field. Below is a detail and explanation of these
differences.

Alpha rays
Alpha rays have the lowest penetrating power and can be stopped with
a piece of paper. Alpha rays produce approximately 1,000,000 ion pairs
per centimeter when they travel through the air. This is a high
percentage and the reason for this is that it has a large mass and moves
slowly, and this allows it to interact more with air molecules.
Alpha particles are affected by the application of a magnetic field
perpendicular to their path, so that they show some deviation because
they have a positive charge. They also have the least penetrating ability,
because they lose their energy quickly and cannot travel except a few
centimetres.

Beta rays
Beta rays have moderate penetrating power and are 100 times more
powerful than alpha particles. They produce about 10,000 pairs of ions
per centimeter as they spread through the air. Beta particles are more
affected by the application of a magnetic field on their path than alpha
particles. Because it has half the charge of alpha particles and greater
speed than alpha particles, it also has average penetrating power
compared to alpha and gamma particles.

Gamma rays
Gamma rays have the highest penetrating power compared to alpha
and beta. Gamma rays can produce approximately 10 pairs of ions per
centimeter as they spread through the air. Gamma particles are not
affected by the application of a magnetic field because the photon is
not charged, and they also have the greatest ability to penetrate.