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Alpha particles have high mass and energy and therefore momentum compared to beta particles. An alpha is a helium nucleus (2+) charge, beta is an electron or positron (1- or 1+ charge). The relative high momentum of the alpha particle means there is potential for more ionisation events compared to beta. The 2+ charge increases the probability of each event.
Alphas dump their energy in a shorter distance than beta particles. The property that describes this is called stopping power, S, which is both particle (ie alpha/beta) and stopping material (ie skin or plastic, etc) dependant. Stopping power is the change in energy with respect to the penetration depth in the material.
S = dE/dx It's usually given in Mev/cm or eV/cm (as opposed to the J/m SI unit). There are tables of this available on the internet for various particle and material combinations.
This has potentially useful and harmful implications. Usefully, a known alpha source can be stopped readily to avoid harmful effects - by using a shielding material. For alpha this could be a think layer of plastic or foil (or even paper). Alphas stop so readily they are significantly impeded by smoke... and hence the smoke detector still found in many houses. Beta takes a bit more material to stop - 1 cm of acrylic plastic is usually sufficient.
Now to the question proper - why beta could damage skin more than alpha. Alpha stops in a really short distance. The top portion of one's "skin" is actually dead cells. The incident alphas are likely to be stopped by the dead cells on the top layer of skin, rather than depositing any significant energy in live tissue. Betas on the other hand will travel a few millimetres or a centimetre into human tissue, so a significant dose would be received by the skin from an external beta source. Of course a high energy alpha may actually have enough energy to penetrate the dead layer in the first place, or you may have just ex-foliated or you may have "thin" skin, so don't try this at home.
Is the moral of the story than betas are more harmful? NO. Alphas are pretty safe in a box, but don't swallow them! Alphas may have a reputation of not delivering a large skin dose, but if they get to a place like the bloodstream or the stomach, there's no "dead skin shielding" to stop them so you could be in for some radiation poisoning.
Don't eat a smoke detector... the batteries make you really ill.
What else can I help you with?
What correctly describes the charge of beta particles and alpha particles?
Beta particles have a negative charge, while alpha particles have a positive charge. Beta particles are electrons or positrons, while alpha particles are helium nuclei consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
What type of nuclear radiation can be blocked by a block of lead Beta particles or alpha particles?
Alpha particles can be blocked by a block of lead due to their relatively low penetrating power, while beta particles may require a thicker shield, such as a piece of aluminum or plastic, depending on their energy. Lead is not as effective at blocking beta particles as it is for alpha particles.
Why are reactions that emit alpha particles generally considered more safe than those that emit beta particles?
Alpha particles are actually electron-less helium nuclei versus beta particles which are actually electrons, which are much smaller than alpha particles. Therefore, alpha particles' penetrating strength is much smaller than beta particles (a sheet of paper versus a wooden board). Therefore, beta particles will penetrate more into a human body and will do more damage than alpha particles which are usually stopped at the skin.
What type of field would deflect alpha and beta particles?
An electromagnetic field would deflect alpha and beta particles. Charged particles like alpha and beta particles are affected by electromagnetic forces, causing them to change direction when passing through an electromagnetic field.
The benefits of alpha beta and gamma?
PGC-1 alpha and beta can be overexpressed in skeletal muscle. This overexpression leads to anti-inflammatory effects. Both alpha and beta reduce TNF alpha levels. TNF alpha is a pro-inflammatory substance. When you challange muscle with inflammatory insults: Injecting LPS (lipopolysacharide, or TNF alpha, or induce muscle inflammation by downhill running) then overexpression of PGC-1 alpha and beta protect against inflammation
Why beta particles are more potentially harmful to skin than alpa particles?
Because beta particles are more powerful in penetrating the skin.
What correctly describes the charge of beta particles and alpha particles?
Beta particles have a negative charge, while alpha particles have a positive charge. Beta particles are electrons or positrons, while alpha particles are helium nuclei consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
How do you check for harmful radiation levels?
You use a device called a Geiger Counter, which senses alpha and beta particles.
How would you list alpha particles beta particles and gamma rays in order of increasing energy?
Alpha, beta, gamma.
What type of nuclear radiation can be blocked by a block of lead Beta particles or alpha particles?
Alpha particles can be blocked by a block of lead due to their relatively low penetrating power, while beta particles may require a thicker shield, such as a piece of aluminum or plastic, depending on their energy. Lead is not as effective at blocking beta particles as it is for alpha particles.
An electron is to a beta particle as helium is to a?
An electron is to a beta particle as helium is to an alpha particle. Both beta particles and alpha particles are types of radioactive decay products, with beta particles being high-energy electrons and alpha particles being helium nuclei consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
What is a beta emitter?
In physics, an alpha emitter is a radioactive substance which decays by emitting alpha particles.
How does the penetrating ability of gamma rays compare with that of alpha particles and beta particles?
Gamma rays have higher penetrating ability compared to alpha and beta particles. Gamma rays can penetrate through most materials, while alpha particles can be stopped by a sheet of paper and beta particles by a few millimeters of aluminum.
If the mixture of electrically neutral how many more beta particles than alpha particles are in the balloon?
If a mixture is electrically neutral, for every alpha particle (which has a charge of +2), there must be two beta particles (each with a charge of -1) to balance the charges. So there are two more beta particles than alpha particles in the balloon.
Alpha particles and beta particles differ in?
Alpha particles are helium nuclei consisting of two protons and two neutrons emitted during radioactive decay, while beta particles are electrons (beta-minus) or positrons (beta-plus) emitted during the decay of a neutron-rich or proton-rich nucleus, respectively. Alpha particles are larger, heavier, and carry a greater charge compared to beta particles.
What are three different types of radioactivity and their characteristics?
Alpha decay: Involves the emission of an alpha particle (2 protons and 2 neutrons). Alpha particles have low penetration power but can be harmful if inhaled or ingested. Beta decay: Involves the emission of a beta particle (an electron or positron). Beta particles have higher penetration power than alpha particles. Gamma decay: Involves the emission of gamma rays, which are high-energy electromagnetic radiation. Gamma rays have the highest penetration power and are often emitted along with alpha or beta particles.
Why are reactions that emit alpha particles generally considered more safe than those that emit beta particles?
Alpha particles are actually electron-less helium nuclei versus beta particles which are actually electrons, which are much smaller than alpha particles. Therefore, alpha particles' penetrating strength is much smaller than beta particles (a sheet of paper versus a wooden board). Therefore, beta particles will penetrate more into a human body and will do more damage than alpha particles which are usually stopped at the skin.
