DEPARTMENT OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Name
ANDHRA PRADESH
: M. Vani
Designation : Lecturer
Branch : AEIE
Institution : Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
GMRP,KNR
Year/sem : IV-SEM
Subject : Process Instrumentation-II
Subject code : AEI-405
Topic : Nuclear Instrumentation(5/5)
Duration : 50 minutes
Sub Topic : Alpha , Beta particles (1/17)
Teaching aids : PPT, Visuals
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 Objectives

Upon completion of this topic you would be able

to know about

• Types of radiations

• Properties of Alpha (α) particles

• Properties of Beta (β) particles

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• Radioactivity :-

• The phenomenon of spontaneous emission of powerful

radiations exhibited by heavy elements is called
“radioactivity”
• The radioactive radiations consists of α, β, γ rays
• Radioactivity is a nuclear phenomena and is a drastic
process
• It is spontaneous and irreversible self disintegrating
activity

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• Those elements which exhibit this activity are called as
radio active elements
EX : uranium
polonium
Radium
Radon
Ionium
Thorium
Actinium

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 Properties of Radioactive radiation

• These radiations are highly penetrating

– They affect photographic plates, ionize gases, cause
scintillations on fluorescent screen develop heat and
produce chemical change

• New elements are formed in irreversible process which

are also radioactive

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• The emission of radiation is spontaneous and is not
affected by external agents

• The emission is extended over the period of time i.e., not

instantaneous but prolonged

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 Identification of radioactive elements

• A small quantity of radium R is

placed in a cavity made in a
lead block as shown in fig

• A photographic plate is placed

at a short distance above the
lead block to receive the rays

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• A strong magnetic field is
applied perpendicular to the
plane of the paper

• A small drill hole is made to

the lead block

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• The whole apparatus is placed in an air tight chamber

• After long exposure the photographic plate is developed

• Three distinct markings corresponding to three radiations

will found on a photographic plate

• The one lying to the left is produced by positively

charged α particles

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• The one to the right is produced by negatively charged β
particles

• The third trace which lies between the other two is made
by γ rays (photons), which shows that they are
uncharged

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• The similar results can be obtained
by arranging the same in an
electrostatic field
• The negatively charged β particles
are deflected towards the positive
plate
• The positively charged α particles
bend towards the negative plate

• γ rays do not bend at all

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 Properties of α particles
• The α particles is a helium nucleus consisting of two
protons and one neutrons

• It has a mass of 62 x 10-27 kg and has a positive charge

of 3.2 x 10-9 coulombs

• It is the heaviest and the slowest, traveling at speeds

from 1/10 to 1/100 of the velocity of light

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• It has least penetrating rate about 0.02 mm of aluminum
foil

• They are deflected by electric and magnetic field showing

that they are positively charged particles

• They produce intense ionization through which they pass

• The ionization power is 100 times greater than the β rays

and 10,000 times greater than that of γ rays

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• The range of α particles varies from 3.4cm emitted by
radium and 8.6cm for those emitted by thorium

• They produce fluorescence in substances like zinc

sulphide and barium platino cyanide

• They are scattered while passing through thin sheet of

mica, aluminum and gold foil etc.

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 Properties of Beta particles
• It is an electron with a mass of 9.03 x 10-31kg.

• Beta particles are much lighter than α particles.

• Speed of these particles are approximately equal to

that of light.

• The penetration rate is about 100 times than that of α

particles.

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• They produce ionization in air

• The ionization power is 1/100th of that of α particles

• They are readily scattered when passing through the

matter because of their extremely small mass

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• They affect photographic plates more strongly than α
particles

• They produce fluorescence in platino cyanide, calcium

tungstate

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Emission of different rays

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 Summary

We have discussed about

• Types of radiations

• Properties of Alpha (α) particles

• Properties of Beta (β) particles.

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 Quiz
1. The penetration rate of beta particles are
-------------- times than that of alpha particles.
c) 1000
d) 100
e) 10
f) None

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Frequently asked questions

1) Explain about alpha and beta particles.

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Thank you

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