Question

Emissions from alpha decay require the least amount of shielding. Which best describes why the emissions from alpha decay are so easily blocked compared to the emissions of other types of radioactive decay?

Alpha decay releases visible light, which has less energy than the light released during gamma decay.

Alpha decay releases particles that have less mass and charge than the particles released during beta decay.

Alpha decay releases particles that have less mass and charge than the particles released during gamma decay.

Alpha decay releases particles that have more mass and charge than the particles released during beta decay.

Answer 1

D

Step-by-step explanation:

i took the test :)

Answer 2

Alpha decay releases particles that have more mass and charge than the particles released during beta decay.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the alpha decay, an alpha particle is emitted. An alpha particle is a nucleus of helium, consisting of two protons and two neutrons. The particle emitted in the beta decay is instead an electron: therefore, the alpha particle has more mass and more charge than a beta particle. For this reason, alpha particles are much more ionising than electrons, so they release much more energy per unit distance than beta particles, and so they lose all their energy much faster than beta particles. This is why alpha particles can be easily blocked even by a thin piece of paper, while beta particles are able to pass through.