Question

The emission of an α-particle or the emission of a β-particle is nearly always accompanied by what is known as γ-radiation.

(i)  How does the ionizing power of γ-radiation compared with that of α and β particles?

(ii)  Is γ-radiation more or less penetrating than α and β particles?

(iii)  Is it possible to deflect γ-radiation in the ways that α and β particles can be deflected, using electric or magnetic fields?

(iv)  What is γ-radiation thought to be?

Answer 1

(i)  The ionising power of γ-radiation as compared with α- and β-particles is about 1/100 times that of the β particles and 1/10000 times that of the α -particles.

(ii)  γ -radiations are highly penetrating. Their penetrating power is about 100 times that of (7i- particles and 10000 times that of α -particles.

(iii)  They are not deflected by electric and magnetic fields.

(iv)  γ -radiation are electromagnetic radiations of short wavelength shorter even than the wavelength of X-rays.