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Chapter 2: Problem 16

Describe two ways in which \(\alpha\) particles and \(\beta\) particles differ.

Short Answer

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Answer: 伪 and 尾 particles differ in their composition, mass, and charge. 伪 particles are composed of two protons and two neutrons, have a higher mass, and a +2 charge, while 尾 particles are high-energy electrons or positrons with a lower mass and charge of -1 or +1. Additionally, 伪 particles have lower penetrating power and range compared to 尾 particles.

Step by step solution

01

1. Definition of Alpha and Beta Particles

Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons, and they are positively charged. Beta particles, on the other hand, are high-energy electrons (尾-) or positrons (尾+) that are emitted during nuclear decay. Electrons are negatively charged, while positrons are positively charged.
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2. Differences in Mass and Charge

伪 particles are much more massive than 尾 particles. An 伪 particle has a mass of approximately 6.64 x 10^{-27} kg, while 尾 particles have a mass of about 9.11 x 10^{-31} kg (for electrons and positrons). In terms of charge, 伪 particles have a +2 charge (due to the two protons), while 尾 particles have either a -1 (for electrons) or +1 (for positrons) charge.
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3. Penetrating Power and Range

伪 particles have a lower penetrating power and range in matter compared to 尾 particles due to their higher mass and charge, which causes them to lose energy quickly through collisions with atoms. This makes 伪 particles more likely to be stopped by a thin barrier, such as paper or the outer layers of skin. In contrast, 尾 particles have greater penetrating power and range, capable of passing through thin sheets of metal or thick layers of material. In summary, 伪 and 尾 particles differ in their composition, mass, charge, and penetrating power. 伪 particles are composed of two protons and two neutrons, have a higher mass, a +2 charge, and lower penetrating power. 尾 particles are high-energy electrons or positrons with a lower mass, charge of -1 or +1, and higher penetrating power.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Alpha Particles
Alpha particles are fascinating forms of ionizing radiation that originate from certain kinds of radioactive decay. They are composed of two protons and two neutrons, essentially making them identical to a helium nucleus. Due to this composition, alpha particles are heavy and carry a positive charge of +2.
  • They move through space at about 5-7% of the speed of light, which may seem fast, but they quickly lose their energy and are stopped by simple barriers like a sheet of paper or even your skin.
  • An alpha particle is massive relative to other forms of radiation, which drastically affects its behavior as it moves through air or other materials.
As they travel, alpha particles ionize the atoms around them by knocking off electrons, leaving behind a trail of these charges. This ionization process is often the reason they quickly lose their energy and are unable to penetrate deeply into substances.
Beta Particles
Beta particles are another common type of radiation, but they differ substantially from alpha particles in both composition and behavior. Beta particles can be either electrons (called beta-minus, 尾-) or positrons (called beta-plus, 尾+).
  • Beta-minus particles are negatively charged electrons, while beta-plus particles are positively charged positrons.
  • An interesting aspect is that they have a much lower mass compared to alpha particles and travel at higher speeds. This high energy is a result of how they form during certain nuclear reactions.
Because of their relatively small size and charge, beta particles have a greater ability to penetrate materials compared to alpha particles. However, they can still be stopped by materials like plastic or a sheet of aluminum.
Penetrating Power
The penetration power of a particle defines how easily it can pass through materials and potentially reach sensitive areas, such as human tissue. Alpha particles, despite their massive size, are poor at penetrating. A simple sheet of paper or a few centimeters of air can stop them. This limitation is due to their high mass and charge, causing them to lose energy quickly as they collide with atoms in the material.
  • This makes alpha particles both less dangerous and highly dangerous. Outside the body, they're stopped easily, but inside, they could cause significant damage due to their ionizing capability.
  • Beta particles, on the other hand, possess medium penetrating power. Though more penetrating than alpha particles, they can still be stopped by thicker materials like aluminum or plastic shields.
Understanding the penetrating power of different radiation types is crucial in applications ranging from medicine to nuclear safety, as it helps determine the level of shielding required for protection and safety.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

How many carbon atoms are there in one molecule of each of the following compounds? (a) \(\mathrm{CH}_{4} ;\) (b) \(\mathrm{C}_{3} \mathrm{H}_{8} ;\) (c) \(\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) (d) \(\mathrm{C}_{6} \mathrm{H}_{12} \mathrm{O}_{6}\)

Mendeleev left empty spaces in his periodic table for elements he suspected existed but had yet to be discovered. However, he left no spaces for the noble gases (group 18 in the modern periodic table). Suggest a reason why he left no spaces for them.

Mass spectrometry has proven useful in analyzing the gases emitted from landfills. The principal component is methane \(\left(\mathrm{CH}_{4}\right),\) but small amounts of dimethylsulfide \(\left(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6} \mathrm{S}\right)\) and dichloroethene \(\left(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{Cl}_{2}\right)\) are often present, too. Calculate the masses of the molecular ions formed by these three compounds in a mass spectrometer.

Calculate the ratio of neutrons to protons in the following stable atomic nuclei: (a) \(^{4} \mathrm{He} ;\) (b) \(^{23} \mathrm{Na} ;\) (c) \(^{59} \mathrm{Co} ;\) and (d) \(^{197}\) Au. Each of these elements exists naturally as a single isotope. What trend do you observe for the neutronto-proton ratio as \(Z\) increases?

Rank the following compounds based on increasing molecular mass. (a) \(\mathrm{CO} ;\) (b) \(\mathrm{Cl}_{2} ;\) (c) \(\mathrm{CO}_{2} ;\) (d) \(\mathrm{NH}_{3} ;\) (e) \(\mathrm{CH}_{4}\)
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