What is Alpha?
Alpha are fast moving helium atoms.
They have high energy, typically in the MeV range, but due to their large mass,
they are stopped by just a few inches of air, or a piece of paper. Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium neucleus. They are generally produced in the process of alpha decay, but may also be produced in other ways.
Alpha particles are named after the first letter in the Greek alphabet α.
Alpha particles (symbol α ) are a type of ionizing radiation ejected by the nuclei of some unstable atoms. They are large subatomic fragments consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
Examples of Alpha Radiation -
Examples of this sort of nuclear transmutation are when uranium becomes thorium, or radium becomes radon gas, due to alpha decay. Alpha particles are commonly emitted by all of the larger radioactive nuclei such as uranium, thorium, actinium, and radium, as well as the transuranic elements.
Alpha are fast moving helium atoms.
They have high energy, typically in the MeV range, but due to their large mass,
they are stopped by just a few inches of air, or a piece of paper. Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium neucleus. They are generally produced in the process of alpha decay, but may also be produced in other ways.
Alpha particles are named after the first letter in the Greek alphabet α.
Alpha particles (symbol α ) are a type of ionizing radiation ejected by the nuclei of some unstable atoms. They are large subatomic fragments consisting of two protons and two neutrons.
Examples of Alpha Radiation -
Examples of this sort of nuclear transmutation are when uranium becomes thorium, or radium becomes radon gas, due to alpha decay. Alpha particles are commonly emitted by all of the larger radioactive nuclei such as uranium, thorium, actinium, and radium, as well as the transuranic elements.