Radiobiology > Physical Processes > Quanta > Alpha Particles
Alpha Particles
Alpha particles...
- Are large and positively charged
- Tend to cause ionizations and lose energy over a very short distance
- Are composed of two protons and two neutrons (i.e. a naked helium nucleus)
- Large size + relatively high charge prevent deep penetration of matter (blocked by dead skin or paper)
- Chronic exposure to inhaled alpha particles is a lung cancer risk
- Are important in the uranium decay series, of which radon is a product