Exam-style question
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Which type of radiation is primarily used in smoke detectors due to its high ionising power?.
- 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 highly ionising due to their mass and charge. This high ionising power makes alpha particles effective in ionising air molecules, which is why they are used in smoke detectors.
In contrast, beta radiation has lower ionising power and gamma radiation has very low ionising power but high penetration. Alpha radiation is applicable in smoke detectors where ionisation is needed to detect smoke particles effectively.
Thus, alpha radiation is primarily used in smoke detectors.
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