Alpha Particles of Uranium 238

[On_A_Quest]

I have a simple question. Do alpha particles from radiation arc and fall after leaving its source? Are these particles bound by the same gravitational laws as us?

 

[Orodruin]

Yes. However, typical particle speeds are so high that you will not really see much of a deflection.

 

[Borek]

In general - yes. That is, assuming they don't collide with other atoms present in their surroundings (bulk metal, air).

You can try to find out their speed (you can calculate it from their energy, which should be easy to google), and estimate their behavior on the Earth surface assuming no air, just a gravitational field. This is a rather simple physics problem, actually not different from all these questions about John throwing a stone from a window

 

[On_A_Quest]

I guess my next question would be why the arc? Why now just fall from a linear plain?

 

[Astronuc]

I guess my next question would be why the arc? Why now just fall from a linear plain?

When an alpha particle leaves a nucleus, two electrons are also released by the nucleus. The alpha particle will collide with other atoms until it slows to equilibrium in the surrounding environment. At some point the +2 nucleus will capture two electrons and become a Helium (4) atom, and so in the atmosphere it will be He gas. Underground, it will also be gas, which will collect in whatever porosity is available. In deposits of natural gas, one will find He and sometimes Rn, from decay of U and other heavy radionuclides.

All matter is subject to effect of gravity.

 

[mfb]

Did you do the calculation suggested by Borek? You'll see that the effect is absolutely negligible.

 

[Vanadium 50]

I guess my next question would be why the arc?

You were the one` to bring it up. My question is "why"?

 

[gmax137]

I guess my next question would be why the arc?

Well, the trajectory depends on the initial angle (relative to "down," the direction of gravity) just like for a cannonball. If the initial direction of the particle happens to be straight down, then no, there is no arc.

Why now just fall from a linear plain?

I don't understand what you are asking here.

 

[artis]

Well, the trajectory depends on the initial angle (relative to "down," the direction of gravity) just like for a cannonball. If the initial direction of the particle happens to be straight down, then no, there is no arc.I don't understand what you are asking here.

I think he meant that if the alpha is emitted say horizontally from the nucleus then it would essentially start a linear descent forming a traced line hat is roughly 45 degrees.

The arc example I understand was meat to be similar to how one would throw a basketball up and sideways ad then it would travel up before falling back down and the line that traced the ball would roughly resemble an arc. But then mfb already gave the main answer

Did you do the calculation suggested by Borek? You'll see that the effect is absolutely negligible.

which is that for something that light and traveling that short of a distance on average gravity is a negligible effect
If there was even a slight E field somewhere (realistically there always is I think) it's effect would be far more noticeable on the overall positively charged alpha than gravity

 

[Vanadium 50]

The OP hasn't been back. Just a hit and run post.