radiOAcTiviTy!212!
...range is due to its large mass and its charge. If alpha rays were to come in contact with membranes and living cells, they are almost guaranteed to give maximum damage. Beta radiation, like alpha radiation, is seeded from streams of beta particles. Beta particles are more penetrating than alpha particles. But because of the -1 charge, a beta particle interacts more readily than that of a positively charged one. Beta rays can be stopped by aluminum, and are less harmful than alpha rays because it deposits its energy over a greater area. Beta particles are usually labeled by the symbol ?. Gamma radiation is composed of electromagnetic rays. Gamma rays are high in energy, therefore they are incredibly penetrating. Gamma rays can even penetrate through a concrete wall. To be protected from gamma rays, one must effectively shield one?s self with materials with a high atomic mass number and density, such as lead. Alpha, beta, and gamma particles all occur and originate from different places. Alpha particles are formed when a radioactive atom ejects a particle with two neutrons and protons. Beta particles are believed to be formed during nuclear reactions when neutrons are transformed into protons. Gamma radiation occurs in atoms that still contain energy even after decay. Radioactivity cannot be detected by human senses alone. Because radiation has effect on human tissue and cannot be detected by human senses, it is extremely dangerous. One can be exposed to radiation unknowingly. ...