Nuclear radiation penetration

The origin of these galactic cosmic rays is not yet well understood, but they seem to be remnants of supernovae and especially gamma-ray bursts GRBwhich feature magnetic fields capable of the huge accelerations measured from these particles. Beta particleswhich are similiar to electrons, are emitted from naturally occurring materials such as strontium Gamma radiation, however, is composed of photons, which have neither mass nor electric charge and, as a result, penetrates much further through matter than either alpha or beta radiation. Neutrons are about one-fourth the size of alpha particles and have almost 2, times the mass of an electron. An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons. Soft tissue in the human body is composed of smaller atoms than the calcium atoms that make up bone, hence there is a contrast in the absorption of X-rays.

Though the least ionising of all the forms of radiation, that doesn't mean Gamma rays aren't dangerous.

What Type of Radiation Is the Most Penetrating?

Thanks for the read, it's always nice to hear feedback. British Broadcasting Corporation Home. Some articles have YouTube videos embedded in them. Depending on which text editor you're pasting into, you might have to add the italics to the site name. Geiger counters do not detect cell phone radiation. Microscopic nuclear explosions of some radioactive chemicals release high-energy alpha particles. They are likely to be emitted alongside alpha and beta radiation, though some isotopes emit gamma radiation exclusively.