Nature of radiation
In order to study the nature of the radiation,a piece of a radioactive element,such as radium,is placed at the
bottom of a small hole drilled in a led block.
The emitted radiations pass through the hole and enter a vacuum chamber in which a magnetic field is applied
perpendicular to the plane of the paper directed away from the reader.The radiations are deflected by the
magnetic field and forms three separate images on the photographic plate placed above the hole in the chamber.
The radiations deflected towards left are positively charged and given the name of rays.The radiations deflected
towards right are negatively charged and given the name of rays.The rays which are not deflected by the
magnetic field have no charge and are called rays.Hence three types of radiations as mentioned above,are
emitted by radioactive elements but an atom can never emit and rays simultaneously.
They affect a photographic plate and their effect is greater than those of -particles.
They produce flourescene in barium platino cyanide etc.
They are affect by electric and magnetic fields.Their direction of deflection indicates that they are negatively
charged particles.
By measuring e/m it has been found that beta rays consists of fast moving electrons.
They can ionize the gasses but their ionizing power is much less than that of alpha rays.
They can penetrate through large thickness of matter.
Beta rays are shot out from radioactive substances with very high velocities ranging from 1 % to 99 % of the
velocity of light.
When a beta particle is emitted from a radioactive substance ,the charge number changes but there is no change
in mass number with emission of a beta particle one of the neutron in the nucleus is converted into a proton.
They have high power of penetration and can pass easily through 30 cm thickness of iron.
They are diffracted by crystals just x-rays.
They posses the same velocity as that of light.
They ionize the gas through which they pass but the ionization produced is very small.
They affect a photographic plate and their effect is greater than that of beta rays.
They produce flourescene in barium platino cyanide.
They are not affected by electric and magnetic fields.
When a nucleus emits gamma rays its charge number nor its mass number changes.
PROPERTIES OF -RAYS
NATURE: rays consist of particle. Each particle consists of 2He4
nucleus.
CHARGE: particle carry positive charge.
MASS: Mass of each - particle is 4 times that of a proton or H-atom.
PROPERTIES OF -RAYS
NATURE: rays consist of fast moving electrons.
CHARGE: rays have negative charge.
VELOCITY: Velocity of rays is from 9 x 107 m/sec to 27 x 107 m/sec.
EFFECT ON PHOTO GRAPHIC PLATE:rays affect the photo graphic
plate.
IONIZTION POWER: Ionization power of rays is very small.
KINETIC ENERGY: Kinetic energy of rays is less than that of -
rays.
FLUORESCENCE: rays produce fluorescence in different substance.
PROPERTIES OF -RAYS
NATURE: rays are electromagnetic radiations.
CHARGE: - rays are no charge.
VELOCITY: - rays travel with the velocity of light that is 3 x 108 m/sec.
PENETRATION POWER: Penetration power of - rays is very large. It
is about hundred times larger than that of rays.
FLUORESCENCE: - rays produce feeble fluorescence When incident on
screen coated with barium platino cyanide.