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alpha particle penetration

paulo1913
in Physics

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Why wolud you expect alpha particles, with their greater charge, to be less able to penetrate materials than beta particles of the same energy?

it`s a bit like comparing a kicked football to a .223 high velocity sniper round.

You should also compare their mass, and the consequent effect on speed (for the same energy), which affects how long the can interact with a particular target, and have a chance at ionizing it. The charge only gives you a factor of two in interaction strength.

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