Question 1: Define alpha radiation and describe its main characteristics.

Answer: Alpha radiation consists of helium nuclei (2 protons, 2 neutrons). It is positively charged, has low penetration ability, and can be stopped by paper or skin.

Question 2: Explain how beta particles are produced in radioactive decay.

Answer: Beta particles are high-energy electrons (or positrons) emitted when a neutron in the nucleus converts into a proton (or vice versa), during radioactive decay.

Question 3: What type of radiation has the highest penetrating power among alpha, beta, and gamma rays?

Answer: Gamma

Question 4: Fill in the blank: Gamma radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation with very high _____.

Answer: frequency

Question 5: Describe one safety precaution when handling materials that emit gamma radiation.

Answer: Use lead shielding or stay behind thick barriers, and limit exposure time to reduce radiation risks.

Question 6: Calculate the energy of a gamma photon with a wavelength of 1 nm. (Use the formula E = hc/λ, where h = 6.626×10^-34 Js, c = 3×10^8 m/s, λ in meters).

Answer: E = (6.626×10^-34 Js)(3×10^8 m/s) / 1×10^-9 m = 1.9878×10^-16 Joules

Question 7: Identify which type of radiation is most likely to cause ionization in living cells.

Answer: Alpha

Question 8: Explain why gamma rays require heavy shielding such as lead or concrete.

Answer: Gamma rays have high penetration power due to their electromagnetic nature and high frequency, so dense materials like lead or concrete are needed to absorb or block them effectively.

Question 9: Describe an experiment or method used to detect alpha, beta, or gamma radiation.

Answer: A Geiger-Müller counter or scintillation detector can be used to detect and measure different types of radiation.

Question 10: In a nuclear reaction, if an atom emits an alpha particle, what change occurs in its atomic number and mass number?

Answer: The atomic number decreases by 2, and the mass number decreases by 4.