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vertices
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what makes an alpha particle more strongly ionising than an electron? It is simply because of the fact that the alpha particle has a greater (double the) magnitude of charge?
vertices said:yeah I understand it arises from the Bethe-Bloch equation (well specifically, the equation for "range", which does show a mass dependence).
What is I am unclear about is the physical basis for why it is so? That is, why would an electron of the same momentum as an alpha particle be less ionising?
thanks glenn.
vertices said:thanks glenn.
"check that an object of mass 8000e , with momentum p, impinging on an obejct of mass 1e - will loose much less energy than a object of mass 1e and momentum p, impinging on an object of mass 1e will do. That was a classical analogy."
does that not depend on how much momentum is *transferred* to the gas atoms (by the charged particle). Why would a lighter particle neccessarily *transfer* more momentum than a heavier one?
The amount of ionization caused by a particle depends on its energy and charge. Particles with higher energy and charge will interact more strongly with the atoms they pass through, causing more ionization.
The type of particle determines its energy and charge, which in turn affects its ability to ionize. For example, alpha particles have a higher charge and energy than beta particles, making them more ionizing.
Alpha particles have a higher charge and energy than beta particles. This means they interact more strongly with atoms, causing more ionization as they pass through a material.
Besides energy and charge, other factors such as mass, velocity, and density of a particle can also affect its ability to ionize. Higher mass and velocity can lead to more ionization, while higher density can increase the likelihood of collisions with atoms.
The ionizing ability of a particle is directly related to its biological effects. More strongly ionizing particles can cause more damage to living cells, leading to potential health risks such as radiation sickness or increased risk of cancer.