Question

1. What is the half-life of uranium-238?

2. What is the half-life of lead-206?

3.What is the main difference between alpha decay and beta decay?

4. Is there an application for either type of decay that is beneficial to humans?

5. During radioactive decay, which additional type of radiation is often emitted along with alpha or beta particles?

6. Why does the table not include the type of radiation discussed in question five?

7. Including your answer for question five, list the three main types of decay particles in order from least penetrating to

most penetrating. Include the type of material that stops each type of radiation.

Answer 1

Half life cof U -238 is 4498 million years.

2)Half life of Pb-206 is 4498 million years

Actually U-238 decays to form Pb-206

3)The main difference is following  

Alpha decay mass number decreases by 4 and atomic number decreases by 2.

Beta decay atomic number increases by 1 and mass number remains same.

4)Beta decay has more penetration power than alpha decay.

So Beta emission is useful in the science of oncology.

Can pateint are treated with applications of beta radiation.

That can diagonize cancer cells, it helps to stop spreading further adjacent body part.

5)Gamma rays are also emitted during radioactive along with alpha decay and beta decay.

6)Here is no table given  

7)least penetration-alpha decay

Alpha can not penetrate paper also.

Moderate penetration-Beta decay

Beta can penetrate paper not aluminium or lead or concrete

Most penetration -Gamma decay

Gamma can penetrate paper, aluminium but not concrete or lead.

Most penetration power is neutron more than gamma radiation more than paper, aluminium, lead but not concrete.