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Q: What thickness of paper can stop an alpha particle?
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What thickness of what material is necessary to stop an alpha particle?

Alpha particles are the least penetrating of the primary particles because they have the most mass and the most charge. They can be stopped with only a few inches of air, or even by a sheet of paper.


What can stop alpha particles?

A sheet of notebook paper will stop alpha particles. Depending on their energy, alpha particles, which are helium-4 nuclei (two protons and two neutrons), will only travel a few feet in air. Use the link below to learn more.


Which penetrates farthest in an object Alpha particle or beta?

Not much. A sheet of paper will stop it. The alpha particle is two protons and two neutrons - a helium-4 nucleus. As radiation goes, it's big and fat, and it will "run into" stuff even if it's just flying through air. Depending on its energy, it can penetrate air, but not more than a few inches.


How fast are alpha particles in water?

The "speed" of an alpha particle will be determined by what it is that generates that alpha particle. That's another way of saying that alpha particles, which are helium-4 nuclei, come in different energies. You will recall that they are generated in alpha decay, which is a form of radioactive decay. As to how "fast" they are in water, all we can state is an initial energy, and then do some calculations to determine how far they might go. As a sheet of notebook paper will stop an alpha particle, it will not travel very far in water. Small fractions of an inch is all we could expect for the distance they'd be able to go. Heck, they'd be bumping into water molecules right from the gate, and losing energy with each collision (which is called a scattering event). Links to related questions can be found below.


Why beta particales are harder to stop than alpha particales?

Beta particles are made of a single electron, therefore are much smaller than the alpha particle, which is made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons

Related questions

What thickness of what material is necessary to stop an alpha particle?

Alpha particles are the least penetrating of the primary particles because they have the most mass and the most charge. They can be stopped with only a few inches of air, or even by a sheet of paper.


Can paper stop gamma rays?

No. An alpha particle can


What can stop both alpha and gamma waves?

First of all its a Alpha particle, and a gamma wave, Paper can stop alpha, and nothing can stop gamma, but it is slowed down by lead, and concrete.


What can stop alpha particles?

A sheet of notebook paper will stop alpha particles. Depending on their energy, alpha particles, which are helium-4 nuclei (two protons and two neutrons), will only travel a few feet in air. Use the link below to learn more.


How would you list alpha partcles beta particles and gamma rays in order of increasing penetrating power?

Alpha particles are the least penetrating, and are not able to pass through a single sheet of paper. Beta particles can penetrate through a sheet of paper, but not a piece of aluminum. Gamma rays can travel through both paper and aluminum and it takes dense material like lead to stop them or reduce their number. Gamma rays are high energy electromagnetic rays.


Which penetrates farthest in an object Alpha particle or beta?

Not much. A sheet of paper will stop it. The alpha particle is two protons and two neutrons - a helium-4 nucleus. As radiation goes, it's big and fat, and it will "run into" stuff even if it's just flying through air. Depending on its energy, it can penetrate air, but not more than a few inches.


What material could possibly stop alpha gamma and beta radiation?

paper and flesh


What can be blocked with a sheet of paper?

A lot of things, but I think you might be referring to which form of radiation since this is the classic answer as to what would stop Alpha radiation. Furthermore tinfoil would stop alpha and beta radiation and lead would stop alpha, beta and gamma radiation.


How fast are alpha particles in water?

The "speed" of an alpha particle will be determined by what it is that generates that alpha particle. That's another way of saying that alpha particles, which are helium-4 nuclei, come in different energies. You will recall that they are generated in alpha decay, which is a form of radioactive decay. As to how "fast" they are in water, all we can state is an initial energy, and then do some calculations to determine how far they might go. As a sheet of notebook paper will stop an alpha particle, it will not travel very far in water. Small fractions of an inch is all we could expect for the distance they'd be able to go. Heck, they'd be bumping into water molecules right from the gate, and losing energy with each collision (which is called a scattering event). Links to related questions can be found below.


Why does paper stop alpha from traveling?

The alpha particles are too large to fit through the gaps between the particles of the paper.


Why beta particales are harder to stop than alpha particales?

Beta particles are made of a single electron, therefore are much smaller than the alpha particle, which is made of 2 protons and 2 neutrons


What is the ionising power of alpha?

alpha particle is the heaviest(compared to gama and beta particle).....it has got haish positive charge and moves with a speed lower compared to beta and gama particle and therefore it ionizies the particles around it as it moves in its path