Question

A piece of radium is enclosed in a lead container, placed in the vacuum chamber. The radium gives out radioactive rays subjected to a magnetic field?

(a) Name the rays A, B and C showing the charge of each.
(b) Give two important properties of each.

[5 MARKS]

Answer 1

Part (a) : 2 Marks
Part (b) : 3 Marks


(a) A : negatively charged $\beta$ -particles with charge of $-1.6\times {10}^{-19}C$
B: positively charged $\alpha$ -particles with charge of $+3.2\times {10}^{-19}C$
C: $\gamma$ - rays with no charge

(b) Properties of A: These particles have:
(i) moderate ionization power.
(ii) moderate penetrating power.

Properties of B: These particles have:
(i) very high ionization power.
(ii) low penetrating power.

Properties of C: These particles have:
(i) low ionization power.
(ii) very high penetrating power.