Why is an alpha particle more likely to be emitted?
The nuclei of these elements are rich in neutrons, which makes alpha particle emission possible. Alpha particles are relatively heavy and slow, and therefore have low penetrating power and can be blocked with a sheet of paper.
Why does an alpha particle have a longer range in air than does a beta particle?
Beta (β) particles are electrons. They do not interact as strongly with atoms as alpha particles and are lighter. As a result they have a greater range and are more penetrating.
Why are alpha particles used instead of neutrons?
This energy is a substantial amount of energy for a single particle, but their high mass means alpha particles have a lower speed than any other common type of radiation, e.g. β particles, neutrons.
Why were the alpha particles deflected by the nucleus and not attracted to it?
Explanation: Alpha particles are are positively charges particles that are made up of 2 protons, 2 neutrons and zero electrons. However, he found that the particles path would be shifted or deflected when passing through the foil. This is due to the fact that like charges repel each other.
Why are alpha particles positively charged?
An alpha particles is positively charged because it is essentially the nucleus of a Helium-4 atom. A Helium-4 nucleus is composed of two protons, which are positively charged particles, and two neutrons, which have no electric charge.
Why is Alpha more Ionising than beta?
Alpha particles are highly ionising because of their double positive charge, large mass (compared to a beta particle) and because they are relatively slow. Alpha particles can’t penetrate the normal layer of dead cells on the outside of our skin but can damage the cornea of the eye.
Why alpha particles produce shorter thicker tracks?
In comparison to other radiation, alpha particles are heavy as they are made from 2 neutrons and 2 protons (the nucleus of a helium nucleus). Due to their size and low energies they do not travel far and therefore produce short tracks.
Why do alpha particles interact more strongly with nuclei than with electrons?
Because it has twice as much charge as a beta particle, an alpha particle interacts more strongly with atomic electrons and loses energy more rapidly by ionizing the atoms.
What was the reason why most of the alpha particles in Rutherford’s experiment passed through without interference?
Because the vast majority of the alpha particles had passed through the gold, he reasoned that most of the atom was empty space. In contrast, the particles that were highly deflected must have experienced a tremendously powerful force within the atom.
Why are most alpha particles not deflected?
Alpha particles are a form of nuclear radiation with a positive charge. The vacuum is important because any deflection of the alpha particles would only be because of collisions with the gold foil and not due to deflections off anything else.
Why were most alpha particles not deflected?
Most of the alpha particles did pass straight through the foil. The atom being mostly empty space. Like charges repel, so the positive alpha particles were being repelled by positive charges. A very small number of alpha particles came straight back off the foil.