This diagram covers Penetrating Power of the Three Radiations within Radioactive Decay for GCSE Physics. Revise Radioactive Decay in Atomic Structure for GCSE Physics with 15 exam-style questions and 6 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 3 of 14 in this topic. Focus on the labels, the relationships between parts, and the explanation that turns the diagram into an exam-ready answer.
📊 Penetrating Power of the Three Radiations
Figure 1: Alpha stopped by paper or a few centimetres of air; beta stopped by aluminium; gamma reduced by thick lead or concrete.
KEY RELATIONSHIP: High ionising power = Low penetrating power. Alpha particles lose energy quickly by ionising many atoms, so they don't travel far. Gamma rays ionise fewer atoms, so they penetrate further.
Practice questions for Radioactive Decay
An alpha particle consists of which particles?
Explain why alpha radiation is described as highly ionising but weakly penetrating.