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GCSE Physics · key term
Electromagnetic radiation emitted from an atomic nucleus.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification 4.4.2.1, 4.4.2.2, 4.4.4.1 · Paper 1
Revise: Radioactive decay and nuclear radiationThick lead or concrete reduces its intensity, although it is safer to say that these materials absorb some gamma radiation rather than guaranteeing that every gamma ray is stopped.
Electromagnetic radiation emitted by a nucleus as it loses energy; its emission does not change the nucleus's mass number or atomic number.
Include every specified output: two smaller nuclei, two or three neutrons, gamma rays and released energy.
Give the order of penetration explicitly: gamma rays are most penetrating, then beta particles, then alpha particles.
Do not say that a particular thickness of lead stops all gamma rays. A thicker absorber reduces the count rate, but gamma rays do not have a sharp stopping thickness.
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A high-energy electromagnetic wave emitted from the nucleus.
Specification 6.15 · Paper 1
High-frequency electromagnetic radiation emitted from an unstable atomic nucleus.
Specification P6.1f, P6.1l · Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher)
Electromagnetic radiation emitted from a nucleus, represented by .
Revise: Balanced equations for decayA gamma ray is electromagnetic radiation rather than a material particle.
High-energy electromagnetic radiation emitted by some unstable nuclei.