Types Of Radiation | Radioactivity | Physics | FuseSchool

Types Of Radiation | Radioactivity | Physics | FuseSchool

Learn about the different types of radiation. Alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays: what are they and how do they differ?

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[joweenie]

the voice is so soothing and comforting but there are too many puffs of air in the audio >_<

[Machuter]

Alpha Radiation: You can't defeat me!
Me; I know but he can
*A PIECE OF PAPER*

[dayinsects]

Alpha, Beta and Gamma are the first three letters of the Greek alphabet.

[katharina...]

Awesome! Thanks James & Daren for making and sharing this video. Aren't the times we're living in incredible? Anyone can learn anything, because people like you, who have passion for sharing knowledge, bother to take their time to create some value and give it to the world free of charge. Thank you!

[k.chriscaldwell]

There are only TWO types of radiation: Particle and electromagnetic.

Particle radiation has sub-types: 1) Alpha, 2) Beta (Electron and Positron), 3) Proton, 4) neutrino 5) and Neutron. Neutron radiation being the only radiation that can make something radioactive.

Electromagnetic radiation falls along a spectrum of low frequencies and high energies starting at the Ultraviolet, running through X-Rays, and continuing on into and beyond Gamma.

However, some classify Bremsstrahlung radiation, the electromagnetic radiation produced by the braking/slowing of radioactive particles. as a third type of radiation.

[rich]

Well, alpha particles are smaller than the tiny gaps in paper so some will still make it through, but most will not. Glass is even more effective, even a mm will all but stop them.
However, SOME will always make it through, even when such a thing is 'impossible', because of quantum tunneling. Quantum tunneling is also what allowed them to break off from their atom, leaving with less energy than was required to overcome the nuclear force.
A good analogy would be, pretend you jump to dunk a basketball, but fly through the roof and into space moving at escape velocity, even though your jump was not any stronger than any other.
This is basically the difference in the alpha particles energy vs the energy required to break away, but it still happens. 
They leave the atom as if they have a lower mass than they do, with the energy as the velocity required to escape the nuclei. This is why large nuclei fire off higher velocity alpha particles. However, they 'remember' they are heavy immediately though and begin slamming on the brakes, usually. Wouldn't it be fun if macro physics worked like quantum physics :P


What makes alpha radiation particularly dangerous is not only how it is ionizing(essentially frying atoms it gets too close to), it is also heavy, so it is basically a wrecking ball. *IF* alpha manages to hit your dna, it does anywhere from 10-1000 times more damage than any other type of radiation. That usually takes breathing or consuming it though, thanks to our skin.

[sharathacharya]

The best voice....like to hear from such lecturers

[sarahbrewer]

you know what. I'm about to say It. I don't care that you broke your elbow.

[zk]

This is so Fucking beautiful thank you so much.

[molliecoiax]

this really helped with revising for my test thanks.

[unpopuIaropinion]

One more minute of his voise and im getting heartattack

[wildannugroho_plus]

FYI, every electromagnetic waves is both particle and wave, including gamma rays

[glenbrockwell]

You left out the part when beta decays a proton is transmuted into a neutron and a neutrino (little neutral lepton) is also discharged.

[arthurvin]

The explanation is incomplete. 1) Alpha - consists of helium nuclei. Carries the most dangerous destructive force due to mass and highest ionizing potential than other two radiation types. 2) Beta - electron or positron, the second most destructive potential. 3) Gamma - is just the light at very high frequency, hence consist of photons and behaves like waves. The least dangerous type of radiation, however there's an evidence of latent damage it can cause in case of long term exposure.

[dankovac]

Marie Curie: ok so i just found out there's an element i called radium, and after researching it a while I've decided to call its and other element's unusual properties "radioactivity".
Im not still sure what it really does so before we do anything we need to thoroughly resear..
Companies: WHAAT? NEW ELEMENT?!?! XDXDXDXD LET'S PUT IT IN LIKE EVERYTHING AND SAY IT HAS HEALING POWERS XDXDXDXDXD!?!!! 1!?

[StevenMP]

Can gamma rays and alpha or beta particles be omitted at the same time? When alpha/beta particles are omitted, is it only particles or is there energy as well?

[zero-one]

Thanks for this explaination.. I needed that..

[agamer]

I like the mic quality, its like old.
I like this video.
It is very useful

[karen]

Informative but his voice could use some emotion. Thanks for the great video

[WorldView]

When an object emits alpha radiation, is it safe to assume that it will also emit some beta or gamma radiation? I mean, if one has a beta and gamma/x-ray radiation monitor, would it able to "detect" (implicitly) alpha from a contaminated item?