Alpha
Alpha radiation is a positively charged particle made up of two neutrons and two protons. It is the least penetration of alpha, beta, and gama radiation. It can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons (as stated before) bound together into a particle identical to a helium neucleus. The alpha particle mass is 6.644656×10-27 kg. It is about 8000 times heavier than an electron and has a double electric charge. The charge of an alpha particle is equal to +2e, where e is the magnitude of charge on an electron, e=1.602176462x10-19C. Alpha Radiation is emitted when heavy, unstable nuclides, for example uranium, radium, radon and plutonium, undergo decay. Beta and gama radiation are more penetratalbe than alpha. If alpha radiation hits the outside of an unshielded human, it cannot penetrate through the skin's outer layer of dead corneous cells so it does no damage. Alpha-emitting materials can be harmful to humans if the materials are inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through open wounds. Alpha radiation cannot penetrate through clothing. The reason alpha decay occurs is because the nucleus has too many protons which cause excessive repulsion. Since an atom loses two protons during alpha decay, it changes from one element to another because as we learned near the begining of the year atoms are named for their amount of protons. For example, after undergoing alpha decay, an atom of Americium (with 95 protons) becomes an atom of Neptunium (with 93 protons). Another way to explain alpha decay is the release of an alpha particle from a nucleus. Here is an example of alpha decay: 
http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/03/1.html
Alpha radiation is a positively charged particle made up of two neutrons and two protons. It is the least penetration of alpha, beta, and gama radiation. It can be stopped by a sheet of paper.
Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons (as stated before) bound together into a particle identical to a helium neucleus. The alpha particle mass is 6.644656×10-27 kg. It is about 8000 times heavier than an electron and has a double electric charge. The charge of an alpha particle is equal to +2e, where e is the magnitude of charge on an electron, e=1.602176462x10-19C. Alpha Radiation is emitted when heavy, unstable nuclides, for example uranium, radium, radon and plutonium, undergo decay. Beta and gama radiation are more penetratalbe than alpha. If alpha radiation hits the outside of an unshielded human, it cannot penetrate through the skin's outer layer of dead corneous cells so it does no damage. Alpha-emitting materials can be harmful to humans if the materials are inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through open wounds. Alpha radiation cannot penetrate through clothing. The reason alpha decay occurs is because the nucleus has too many protons which cause excessive repulsion. Since an atom loses two protons during alpha decay, it changes from one element to another because as we learned near the begining of the year atoms are named for their amount of protons. For example, after undergoing alpha decay, an atom of Americium (with 95 protons) becomes an atom of Neptunium (with 93 protons). Another way to explain alpha decay is the release of an alpha particle from a nucleus. Here is an example of alpha decay: 
http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/03/1.html
alpha particle radiation picture- http://www.fbr.org/swksweb/alphaamer.gif
Beta Radiation
Beta radiation is emitted during the radioactive decay of many beta-active, unstable nuclides. Beta radiation is is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. The beta particle (an electron), is emitted when a neutron in a nucleus is transformed into a proton.
The beta particle is very light and its mass is about 1/2000 that of the proton. Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive nuclei such as potassium-40. The beta particles emitted are a form of ionizing radiation also known as beta rays. Beta radiation may travel meters in air and is moderately penetrating. Some examples of pure beta emitters: strontium-90, carbon-14, tritium, and sulfur-35. If high levels of beta-emitting contaminants are allowed to stay on the skin for a prolonged period of time, they can cause skin injury, but clothing provides some protection agains beta radiation. As mentioned before beta particles are able to penetrate living matter, but only to a certain extent. They are more penetrateable that alpha particles but less penetratable than gama particles. Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. There are two versions of beta deca. The first one is called beta minus decay which is when a neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and antineutrino. In beta plus decay a proton decays into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino. Beta plus and minus decay happen because of the same reason. It is because in different parts of the chart of the Nuclides one or the other will move the product closer to the region of stability. 
http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/03/2.html
beta partical radiation picture- Princeton University http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/ssradtraining/beta.gif
Beta radiation is emitted during the radioactive decay of many beta-active, unstable nuclides. Beta radiation is is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. The beta particle (an electron), is emitted when a neutron in a nucleus is transformed into a proton.
The beta particle is very light and its mass is about 1/2000 that of the proton. Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive nuclei such as potassium-40. The beta particles emitted are a form of ionizing radiation also known as beta rays. Beta radiation may travel meters in air and is moderately penetrating. Some examples of pure beta emitters: strontium-90, carbon-14, tritium, and sulfur-35. If high levels of beta-emitting contaminants are allowed to stay on the skin for a prolonged period of time, they can cause skin injury, but clothing provides some protection agains beta radiation. As mentioned before beta particles are able to penetrate living matter, but only to a certain extent. They are more penetrateable that alpha particles but less penetratable than gama particles. Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a beta particle (an electron or a positron) is emitted. There are two versions of beta deca. The first one is called beta minus decay which is when a neutron decays into a proton, an electron, and antineutrino. In beta plus decay a proton decays into a neutron, a positron, and a neutrino. Beta plus and minus decay happen because of the same reason. It is because in different parts of the chart of the Nuclides one or the other will move the product closer to the region of stability. 
http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/03/2.html
beta partical radiation picture- Princeton University http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/ssradtraining/beta.gif
Gamma Radiation
Gamma radiation is more reactive than both alpha and beta radiation. "Alpha radiation is a heavy, very short-range particle and is actually an ejected helium nucleus....Beta radiation is a light, short-range particle and is actually an ejected electron....Gamma radiation and x rays are highly penetrating electromagnetic radiation." This information can be found here. That is why I will not be speaking of gama particles. The release of gamma rays doesn't change the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus, but in its place has the effect of moving the nucleus from a higher
to a lower energy state or in less words unstable to stable. Gamma radiation and x rays are electromagnetic radiation. This includes rays like visible light, ultraviolet light, and radiowaves. They eagerly penetrate most materials which is where they came up with the nick name "penetrating" radiation due to the fact that they are the most reactive of the three most common types of radiation. Clothing will revent contagion of the skin from materials that are gamma radioactive, but it provides little shielding from penetrating radiation. Gamma decay is the procedure when the atom's nucleus gives off a high energy photon (an extremely short-wavelength electromagnetic radiation). I've all ready explained alpha and beta decay so this should make more sense now, but to learn more about gamma decay go to this website.
http://www.lbl.gov/abc/wallchart/chapters/03/3.html
Gamma-ray radiation picture- Princeton University http://web.princeton.edu/sites/ehs/ssradtraining/gamma.gif
(this picture)- Idaho Department of Enviromental Quality http://www.deq.idaho.gov/inl_oversight/radiation/images/alpha_beta.jpg
Alpha, Beta, Gamma Radiation- by George W. Dowell http://www.blackcatsystems.com/GM/articles/alpha_beta_gamma_radiation.html
Alpha, Beta, Gamma Decay- NDT Resource Center http://www.ndt-ed.org/EducationResources/CommunityCollege/Radiography/Physics/gamma.htm
This site also contains an animation of radioactive decay.
Alpha and Beta Particles- Jefferson Lab http://education.jlab.org/glossary/index.html
Other information- Health Physics Society http://hps.org/publicinformation/ate/q386.html
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