Question detail
Why is alpha radiation weakly penetrating?
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 can only travel a few centimeters in air.
- B. It has no mass.
- C. It is absorbed by paper.
- D. It travels at a slower speed than beta radiation.
Answer
The correct answer is C: It is absorbed by paper..
Explanation
The correct answer is C: It is absorbed by paper.. 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 can only travel a few centimeters in air.; It has no mass.; It travels at a slower speed than beta radiation..
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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