Here’s how the descriptions correspond to alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays:
| Description | Alpha Particles | Beta Particles | Gamma Rays | |--------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|----------------|------------| | considered ionizing radiation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | | consists of electrons or positrons with a very small mass | | ✓ | | | has the most energy | | | ✓ | | produced from certain unstable isotopes, such as hydrogen-3, carbon-14, and strontium-90 | | ✓ | | | represented by \( ^{0}{-1}e \) or \( β^- \), or \( ^{0}{+1}e \) or \( β^+ \) | | ✓ | | | made of two protons and two neutrons bound together | ✓ | | | | used in carbon dating | | ✓ | | | stopped by paper | ✓ | | | | represented by \( ^{4}_{2}He \) | ✓ | | | | emitted as high-energy photons during radioactive decay and nuclear fission | | | ✓ | | the heaviest form of radioactivity | ✓ | | | | has no mass | | | ✓ | | produced from unstable isotopes such as uranium-238, and radium-226| ✓ | | | | stopped by several feet of lead or concrete | | | ✓ | | stopped by a thin sheet of aluminum | | ✓ | |
This table matches the descriptions to the types of radiation.