It is at the small wavelength end of the electromagnetic spectrum.
A g-ray has no mass and no charge.
Emitting a g-ray makes no difference to the mass number
or the atomic number but will make the nucleus more stable.
Radiation - g-rays.
A g-ray (gamma ray) is an electromagnetic wave.
It is at the small wavelength end of the electromagnetic
spectrum.
A g-ray has
no mass
and no charge.
Emitting a g-ray makes
no difference to the mass number
or the atomic
number but will make the nucleus more stable.
Unlike an a-particle
or a b-particle,
a g-ray is not
deflected
by a magnetic or electric
field because it has no charge.
A g-ray is the least likely to collide with other atoms which means that
1.
g-rays have
the most penetrating ability
and are not easily absorbed.
Many centimetres of lead
or a few metres of concrete
will absorb most
g-rays but
some will still get through.
2. g-rays are the
least ionising of the
three types of
radiation.
g-rays are likely to be emitted
at the same time as a-particles or b-particles
but some isotopes only
emit g-rays (see examples).
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