Table of Contents
What is the mass and charge of gamma rays?
Gamma rays are waves, not particles. This means that they have no mass and no charge.
What is the charge of gamma?
0
Types of radiation
Type of radiation | Nature | Electric charge |
---|---|---|
alpha, α | Two protons and two neutrons bound together (identical to a helium nucleus) | +2 |
beta, β | A fast-moving electron from a nucleus | -1 |
neutron, n | A neutral subatomic particle from a nucleus | 0 |
gamma, γ | Electromagnetic radiation | 0 |
What happens to the mass number and charge when gamma is emitted?
Gamma ray emission causes no change in the number of particles in the nucleus meaning both the atomic number and mass number remain the same.
What is the symbol and charge for gamma particle?
Table 11.1 The Three Main Forms of Radioactive Emissions
Characteristic | Alpha Particles | Gamma Rays |
---|---|---|
symbols | α, 42He | γ |
identity | helium nucleus | electromagnetic radiation |
charge | 2+ | none |
mass number | 4 | 0 |
Do gamma rays have a charge?
The great penetrating power of gamma rays stems from the fact that they have no electric charge and thus do not interact with matter as strongly as do charged particles.
What stops a gamma particle?
Gamma rays have so much penetrating power that several inches of a dense material like lead, or even a few feet of concrete may be required to stop them.
Do gamma rays have mass?
Gamma radiation, unlike alpha or beta, does not consist of any particles, instead consisting of a photon of energy being emitted from an unstable nucleus. Having no mass or charge, gamma radiation can travel much farther through air than alpha or beta, losing (on average) half its energy for every 500 feet.
What is the symbol of a gamma particle?
Alpha, beta and gamma
Type of radiation | Greek symbol | What is it? |
---|---|---|
Gamma | γ | Wave – from the high frequency end of the electromagnetic spectrum. Waves have no mass. |