Exam-style question
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Which type of radiation is the least penetrating and most ionising?.
- A.Alpha radiation
- B.Beta radiation
- C.Gamma radiation
- D.X-ray radiation
Model answer
What a good answer should say
- Alpha radiation
Explanation
Why this works
Alpha radiation is defined as a type of radiation consisting of helium nuclei, which are heavy and positively charged. This makes it highly ionising but poorly penetrating, as it can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
In contrast, beta radiation consists of electrons and is more penetrating but less ionising, while gamma radiation is electromagnetic radiation that is highly penetrating but has low ionising power. Alpha radiation is applicable in scenarios where strong ionisation is needed, such as in smoke detectors, while gamma radiation is used in medical imaging due to its high penetration.
Therefore, alpha radiation is the least penetrating and most ionising.
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