What is the difference between alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray and y-ray?
Alpha radiation consists of alpha particles, which are clusters of 2 neutrons and 2 protons, the same as a helium nucleus, which is by far the heaviest type of radiation (it can be stopped by a piece of paper). Beta radiation consists of electrons (negativel units of electrical charge) or positrons (positive) and is much lighter than alpha radiation, so can be stopped by a plate of metal. X-radiation and γ-radiation (gamma radiation, not y-radiation) are electromagnetic radiation and consist of just energy (photons) which has no mass. Gamma radiation is the lowest wavelength of EM radiation classified, and would be harmful to humans in large amounts because of its high energy, but is stopped by Earth’s atmosphere. It is used for things like sterilising surgical equipment by killing microorganisms. X-radiation is the same as gamma radiation, but is lower energy, (lower frequency, longer wavelength), and is the classification of EM radiation below gamma radiation in the spectrum in terms
