Question detail
What is the reason alpha radiation is considered strongly ionising?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Atoms and nuclear radiation
Question
- A. It has a large mass and charge.
- B. It travels at the speed of light.
- C. It can penetrate thick materials easily.
- D. It is composed of high-energy photons.
Answer
The correct answer is A: It has a large mass and charge..
Explanation
The correct answer is A: It has a large mass and charge.. This supports the learning objective "Explain why alpha radiation is strongly ionising but weakly penetrating." in Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation because it uses the correct atomic and nuclear radiation relationship for Atoms and nuclear radiation. The other options are less suitable because they do not match the required Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation idea: It travels at the speed of light.; It can penetrate thick materials easily.; It is composed of high-energy photons..
Common mistake
Alpha Radiation Characteristics
Students often confuse the ionising power of alpha radiation with its penetrating ability, thinking that strong ionisation means it can penetrate materials well.
To fix this, remember that alpha radiation is strongly ionising due to its mass and charge, but it is weakly penetrating because it can be stopped by a sheet of paper or even the outer layer of human skin.
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