What is the charge on alpha particles emitted during the phenomenon of radioactivity?
Correct answer: D. +2e
- A. +e
- B. -e
- C. -2e
- D. +2e
Explanation
Alpha particles are emitted during the process of alpha decay, which is a type of radioactive decay. An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons bound together, which is equivalent to a helium nucleus.Since a proton has a positive charge of +e and there are two protons in an alpha particle, the total charge on an alpha particle is +2e. The neutrons in an alpha particle have no charge, so they do not contribute to the particle's overall charge.
Last updated
About Nuclear Physics
Atomic nuclei contain protons and neutrons, with nuclear size, mass defect and binding energy describing their stability. The work covers alpha, beta and gamma decay, decay equations, half-life and decay rate, along with radiation safety and medical applications such as imaging, radiotherapy and tracers.
Practise Nuclear Physics
1,254 free Nuclear Physics MCQs from Physics, each with the correct answer and an explanation. Unlimited attempts, no account needed.
Exams that ask Physics questions like this
Physics is on 13 papers prepared for on TestUstad, and all of them draw the same bank, so this question is worth knowing for every one of them.