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Question
State following four properties each of α, β and γ radiations:
- Nature,
- Charge,
- Mass and
- Effect of electric field.
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Solution
| Property | α - particle | β - particle | γ - particle |
| Nature | Stream of positively charged particles, i.e. helium nuclei | Stream of negatively charged particles, i.e. energetic electrons. | Highly energetic electromagnetic radiation. |
| Charge | Positive charge (Two times that of a proton) = + 3.2 x 10-19 C (or +2e) | Negative charge = - 1.6 x 10-19 C (or -e) | No charge |
| Mass | Four times the mass of proton i.e., 6.68 x 10-27 kg | Equal to the mass of electron, i.e. 9.1 x 10-31 kg | No mass (Rest mass is zero) |
| Effect of electric field | Less deflected | More deflected than alpha particles but in direction opposite to those of α particles | Unaffected |
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