Alpha Particle

Name:
Alpha Particle
Detailed information:
(α particle). A helium nucleus emitted spontaneously from radioactive elements both natural and manufactured. Its energy is in the range of 4–8 MeV and is dissipated in a very short path, i.e., in a few centimeters of air or less than 0.005 mm of aluminum. It has the same mass (4) and positive charge (2) as the helium nucleus. Accelerated in a cyclotron alpha-particles can be used to bombard the nuclei of other elements.See Helium; Decay; Radioactivity.