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Beta and Gamma Rays- Introduction, Sources, Properties, Use, Practice problems and FAQ
Suppose while you are playing football with your friends, suddenly, one of your teammates falls and feels pain in his forearm. What do you think should be done to check if the bone has fractured or not? Definitely, we need to get the x-ray report of the portion we want to examine. Do you know what is X-rays?
It is the form of electromagnetic radiation that when allowed through the body, generates a picture of opaque imprints on the film to examine the part of the body. Similarly, there are other radiations like beta rays and gamma rays which can pass through the body with very high energy and can damage the tissue present in the body. Let’s learn about the beta and gamma rays in this article.
Table of Content
- Introduction of Beta and Gamma Rays
- Sources of Beta and Gamma Rays
- Properties of Gamma and Beta Rays
- Uses of Beta and Gamma Rays
- Practice Problems
- Frequently Asked Questions
Introduction to Beta and Gamma Rays
A beta particle, also known as a beta ray or beta radiation represented by a symbol
), is a high-energy, fast-moving electron or positron produced by the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus. There are two types of beta decay: (
-)decay and (+)decay, corresponding to electrons and positrons, respectively. Beta particles, because of the charge are a type of ionizing radiation that is more ionizing than gamma rays but less ionizing than alpha particles. Larger the ionising power, greater will be the the damage it will cause on the tissue of living organisms. Because of the lower energy compared to gamma radiation, beta rays penetrating power will be less that that of gamma rays.g tissue, but also the lower the radiation's penetrating power.
A gamma ray, also known as gamma radiation represented by the 
symbol, is a type of penetrating electromagnetic radiation produced by the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei. It is made up of electromagnetic waves with the shortest wavelengths, which are typically shorter than those of X-rays having high penetrating power as compared with alpha and beta particles.
Sources of Beta and Gamma Rays
Beta particles () are small, fast-moving, negatively charged particles emitted from the nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay. Certain unstable atoms, such as hydrogen-3 (tritium), carbon-14, and strontium-90, emit these particles.
Radioactive decay and secondary radiation from atmospheric interactions with cosmic ray particles are the primary sources of gamma rays on Earth. Other uncommon natural sources, such as terrestrial gamma-ray flashes, generate gamma rays via electron action on the nucleus. Fission, as seen in nuclear reactors, and high-energy radioactive reactions, such as nuclear fusion, are significant artificial sources of gamma rays.
Properties of beta and Gamma Rays
Comparison of the properties of beta and gamma of radiation
| Properties of radiation | Beta rays | Gamma Rays |
| Nature of radiation | It is composed of a stream of particles. They are the same as electrons with a charge of -1 and are represented as | rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation with a shorter wavelength than X-rays. |
| Ionisation power | It has a lower ionisation power than  particles because of its lower kinetic energy. |
It results in minimal or no ionisation.. |
| Penetration Power | Due to its high velocity and negligible mass, it has moderate penetration power and can be stopped by 1 cm thick aluminum foil. | Due to its higher velocity and non-material nature, it has the greatest penetration power. Even a 5 cm thick lead chamber cannot stop it. |
| Velocity | It travels approximately ten times faster than particles. | It travels at the speed of light because it is electromagnetic radiation. |
Uses of Beta and Gamma Rays
- Beta particles can be used to treat diseases such as eye and bone cancer, as well as it is used as tracers. The most common material used to create beta particles is strontium-90.
- Beta particles are also used in quality control to measure the thickness of an item, such as paper, as it passes through a roller system.
- Gamma rays reveal details about some of the most energetic phenomena in the universe, but they are mostly absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere. Our only gamma-ray view of the universe comes from high-altitude balloons and satellite missions like the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope.
- Gamma-induced molecular changes can also be used to alter the properties of semiprecious stones, and are commonly used to transform white topaz into blue topaz.
- Gamma radiation sources are commonly used in non-contact industrial sensors to measure levels, density, and thicknesses in the refining, mining, chemical products, food, detergents and soaps and the pulp and paper industries.
- In the water and oil industries, gamma-ray sensors are also used to measure fluid levels. Co-60 or Cs-137 isotopes are commonly used.
- Gamma radiation is used for sterilizing hospital equipments where the usual autoclaving cannot be done. This is also very useful as a point irradiation to selective application in a small area for killing pathogens.or organisms. It is very suitable, as a dry method for food packages sterilization as it is not involving any water or steam which itself could become a source of pathogen growth..
.
Practice Problems
Q1. Select the option to identify the correct trend of radiation according to the mentioned properties.
(ionisation power)
(velocity of radiation)
(penetration power)
(velocity)
Answer: (C)
Solution: Comparison in the properties of beta and gamma of radiation
| Properties of radiation | Alpha rays | Beta rays | Gamma Rays |
| Nature of radiation | It is composed of a stream of particles. They are doubly ionised helium nuclei with a charge of +2 and are denoted by the symbol | It is composed of a stream of particles. They are the same as electrons with a charge of -1 and are represented as | rays are a type of electromagnetic radiation with a shorter wavelength than X-rays. |
| Ionisation power | It has the greatest ionisation power due to its higher kinetic energy and can easily ionise a gas through which it passes. | It has a lower ionisation power than particles because of its lower kinetic energy. |
It results in minimal or no ionisation.. |
| Penetration Power | Due to its larger size, it has little penetration power and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or 0.01 mm thick aluminium foil. | Due to its high velocity and negligible mass, it has moderate penetration power and can be stopped by 1 cm thick aluminium foil. | Due to its higher velocity and non-material nature, it has the greatest penetration power. Even a 5 cm thick lead chamber cannot stop it. |
| Velocity | It travels at approximately one-tenth the speed of light, but the actual velocity is determined by the nucleus from which it is emitted | It travels approximately ten times faster than particles. | It travels at the speed of light because it is electromagnetic radiation. |
Q2. Which of the following are the characteristics of a beta particle?
- Beta particle has higher penetrating power as compared with the alpha particle
- Beta particle has lower ionisation power than alpha particle
- Velocity of beta particles is less than gamma particle
- All of these
Answer: (D)
Solution: Some important characteristics of beta particle include:
- Beta particle has higher penetrating power as compared with the alpha particle but less than gamma particle
- Beta particle has lower ionisation power than alpha particle but more than gamma particles.
- Velocity of beta particles is less than gamma particle but more than alpha particles
Therefore, all three options are correct.
Q3. Which of the following will change when an element emits gamma radiation?
- Only atomic number will change
- Only Atomic mass will change
- Both the atomic number and atomic mass will change
- Both the atomic number and mass number will not change
Answer: (D)
Solution: Gamma radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation which is emitted in the form of energy. When gamma radiation is emitted both atomic number as well as mass number does not change.
Q4. Select the correct option for the particle emitted in the form of “X’ in the given nuclear reaction.
- Beta particle
- Alpha particle
- Both beta and alpha particles
- Cant be determined
Answer: (A)
Solution: Beta decay occurs when a radioactive nucleus decays by emitting particles. It cannot exist in the nucleus, but it is created by converting neutrons into protons and emitting electrons (Beta particles).
The emission of a -particle has no effect on the atomic mass of the daughter nucleus but the atomic number of the daughter nucleus increases by 1 unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1.How do detect the emission of beta and gamma particles?
Answer: Geiger-Müller counter is used for the detection of beta and gammas. The ioniser is a cylindrical vessel made of conducting walls with a narrow window at the end. At less than atmospheric pressure, the cylinder is filled with a noble gas (usually argon). A high voltage of about 900V is created across the cylinder through electrically conducting metal wire. The high charge creates electron-ion pairs either directly or indirectly, depending on whether the radiation is a charged particle or neutral. The electrons are accelerated toward the anode wire, while the ions move in opposite direction towards the cathode(cylinder wall).
Q2. What is the health hazard of gamma particles emitted?
Answer: Gamma rays' extremely high energy allows them to penetrate almost anything. They can even penetrate bones and teeth. As a result, gamma rays are extremely dangerous. They have the ability to destroy living cells, cause gene mutations, and cause cancer.
Q3. What is the difference between beta particles and alpha particles?
Answer: The difference between beta and alpha particles on the basis of their properties are:
| Properties of radiation | Alpha rays | Beta rays |
| Nature of radiation | It is composed of a stream of particles. They are doubly ionised helium nuclei with a charge of +2 and are denoted by the symbol | It is composed of a stream of particles. They are the same as electrons with a charge of -1 and are represented as |
| Ionisation power | It has the greatest ionisation power due to its higher kinetic energy and can easily ionise a gas through which it passes. | It has a lower ionisation power than particles because of its lower kinetic energy. |
| Penetration Power | Due to its larger size, it has little penetration power and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or 0.01 mm thick aluminium foil. | Due to its high velocity and negligible mass, it has moderate penetration power and can be stopped by 1 cm thick aluminium foil. |
| Velocity | It travels at approximately one-tenth the speed of light, but the actual velocity is determined by the nucleus from which it is emitted. | It travels approximately ten times faster than particles. |
Q4. Which rays are emitted from the black hole?
Answer: According to recent studies some of the universe's most massive and distant black holes emit massive amounts of extremely energetic radiation known as gamma rays. This type of radiation is produced, for example, when mass is converted into energy during the fission reactions that power Earth's nuclear reactors.
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