"Alpha particles, also called alpha rays or alpha radiation, consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium-4 nucleus."
Consists of a particle with two protons and two neutrons. It is positively charged and has limited penetrating ability, and can be stopped by a sheet of paper or human skin.
Radioactive Decay: The process by which a nucleus emits particles, energy or electromagnetic radiation in order to become more stable.
Half-life: The time period required for half the nuclei in a sample to decay.
Nucleus: The central part of an atom which consists of protons and neutrons.
Isotopes: Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons in the nucleus.
Radioactivity: The property of certain elements to emit radiation spontaneously by the decay of their nuclei.
Radiation: Energy that travels through space or matter in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles.
Alpha Particle: A type of radiation consisting of two protons and two neutrons emitted by some radioactive substances.
Ionization: The process by which an atom or molecule gains or loses electrons, resulting in the formation of ions.
Geiger Counter: An instrument used to detect and measure ionizing radiation.
Rutherford's Scattering Experiment: An experiment that demonstrated the existence of the atomic nucleus and helped to establish the structure of atoms.
Alpha Spectroscopy: A technique used to identify and measure the amount of alpha radiation emitted by a substance.
Nuclear Fission: The process by which a nucleus is split into smaller fragments, releasing large amounts of energy.
Radioactive Dating: A method used to determine the age of an object by measuring the amount of radioactive material it contains.
Radiation Dose: The amount of radiation absorbed by an object or organism, measured in Sieverts or Gray.
Biological Effects of Radiation: The effects that exposure to radiation can have on living organisms.
"They are generally produced in the process of alpha decay, but may also be produced in other ways."
"Alpha particles are named after the first letter in the Greek alphabet, α."
"The symbol for the alpha particle is α or α2+."
"Once the ion gains electrons from its environment, the alpha particle becomes a normal (electrically neutral) helium atom 42He."
"Alpha particles have a net spin of zero."
"Alpha particles generally have a kinetic energy of about 5 MeV."
"Alpha particles have a velocity in the vicinity of 4% of the speed of light."
"They are a highly ionizing form of particle radiation."
"(They) usually have low penetration depth (stopped by a few centimetres of air, or by the skin)."
"So-called long-range alpha particles from ternary fission are three times as energetic, and penetrate three times as far."
"The helium nuclei that form 10–12% of cosmic rays are usually of much higher energy than those produced by nuclear decay processes."
"High-energy helium nuclei may be highly penetrating and able to traverse the human body."
"High-energy helium nuclei may also be able to penetrate many meters of dense solid shielding."
"Very high-energy helium nuclei produced by particle accelerators (are) of much higher energy than those produced by nuclear decay processes."
"(They) indicate a helium ion with a +2 charge (missing its two electrons)."
"He2+ or 42He2+"
"The helium nuclei that form 10–12% of cosmic rays..."
"Alpha particles, also called alpha rays or alpha radiation..."
"(They) may be highly penetrating and able to traverse the human body and also many meters of dense solid shielding, depending on their energy."