Alpha, beta, and gamma radiation have distinct physical properties.
Complete the table by ticking the correct type of radiation for each property. The first one has been done for you.
| Property | alpha particles | beta particles | gamma rays |
|---|---|---|---|
| is unaffected by electric fields | ✓\checkmark✓ | ||
| has a charge of +2e+2e+2e | |||
| consists of high-energy electrons | |||
| has the shortest range in air |
The symbol for the nucleus of a fluorine-18 atom is:
918F ^{18}_{9}\text{F} 918FState the number of protons and the number of neutrons in a fluorine-18 nucleus.
Explain why alpha radiation has a much greater ionising power in air than beta radiation.
A production line uses a beta-emitting radioactive source and a detector placed on opposite sides of a conveyor belt to monitor whether laundry detergent bottles are filled to the correct height.
If a bottle is underfilled, the detector reading rises, as shown in the graph below.
Why is the detector reading never completely constant, even when there is no bottle in the way?
Why does the detector still record a non-zero reading even if the radioactive source is completely shielded by a thick lead block?
Suggest why a filled bottle causes the detector reading to decrease sharply.
