Exact diff between alpha, beta particles and gamma radiations?

Question

exact numeral diff between alpha , beta particles & gamma radiations

Answer 1

No numeral difference. They are different types of common radiation.

Alpha radiation consists of Helium atom cores without electrons around them. They consist of two protons and two neutrons. They are thus positive charged. Because of their high mass, low speed and charge, they have only a very limited range when matter is around, but can travel quite far in space. Even a piece of paper is enough for shielding you from alpha radiation.

Beta radiation consists of high energy electrons. They are emitted when a Neutron decays into a proton and a electron. They are negative charged and thus also have a limited range when matter, for example an atmosphere is around.

Gamma radiation consists of high energy photons and are electromagnetic radiation. They can travel a very long distance even through dense matter, as the photons are not charged.

In space, you can also encounter other types of radiation, as high energy proton and neutron radiation, as there is no atmosphere absorbing them and relativistic effects allow them to travel a huge distance before they decay.

Another form is neutrino radiation, which is even more strange as neutrinos only interact with other matter in very rare occasions. You rarely notice them and it requires quite some effort to catch them. Just like photons, they carry no charge, but have a very small resting mass, allowing them to only travel at speeds below the speed of light. The lightest neutrinos weight less than 2.2 eV (a measure of mass and energy, derived from E=m*c^2).

Answer 2

Sid, your question and there answers are so interesting replying to have it easily accessible, hope that is ok.

Chris, if a photon is massless why do they say light can't escape a black hole/based on it's gravity, and gravity by definition is based on mass?  (the 3 known gauge boson are based on spin and i've been told if the graviton exist it would have to have a spin 2.) and yet i have been told somewhat harshly that gravity has nothing to do with spin of the earth, yet from smallest to largest it's called  spin. is there 2 different kinds of spin? i don't seem to be able to believe what i am told is fact.

Answer 3

Alpha particles are helium nuclei. They have charge +2e because they include two protons, as well as two neutrons. Beta particles are electrons. They have charge -e, and are several thousand times less massive than alpha particles. Sometimes people refer to a beta+ particle, which is a positron, as well as the beta- described above. Gamma particles are photons that are more energetic than x-rays. They are massless and have no charge.

Answer 4

alpha particles are positive. beta particles are negative or electrons. gamma are neutrally charged.