Physics

Primary Types of Ionizing Radiation

Primary Types of Ionizing Radiation

This lecture broadly focus on four Primary Types of Ionizing Radiation. (a) Alpha Particles: two neutrons and two protons. They travel short distances, have large mass. (b) Beta Particles: Electrons or positrons having small mass and variable energy. (c) Gamma Rays (or photons): Result when the nucleus releases Energy, usually after an alpha, beta or positron transition. (d) X-Rays: Occur whenever an inner shell orbital electron is removed and rearrangement  of the atomic electrons results with the release of the elements characteristic X-Ray energy.