Type of radiation
Ranges in air
What is it stopped by?
Penetrating and ionising power
How is it affected by electric and magnetic fields?
How is it commonly detected?
Other properties
Alpha
Alpha particles have a range of a few centimetres in air. The range is about 5 - 7 cm.

An alpha particle can be stopped by skin , a sheet of paper and a thin sheet of aluminium foil
The ionising power of alpha is very high and the penetrating power is low as it can be stopped by paper.
An alpha particle is attracted to the negatively charged plate. This means that they are positively charged because unlike charges attract with each other. Alpha particles are helium nuclei which contain 2 protons which gives them the positive charge.
Alpha cannot be detected by human senses, there is specialised equipment that is used to detect alpha. A probe is used for detection of alpha radiation.
These are fast moving helium atoms. They have high energy, typically in the MeV range, but due to their large mass, they are stopped by just a few inches of air, or a piece of paper.
They are very heavy and slow moving and strongly attract electrons.
Beta plus
Beta particles can travel a few meters in the air, 20 feet is the maximum range any beta can travel.
Beta can be stopped by a thin metal.- Aluminium

Ionising power is in the zero range.
Penetrating power of beta minus of plus is medium.
Beta radiation can be deflected by electric and magnetic fields.

Beta minus
Beta particles can travel a few meters in the air, 20 feet is the maximum range any beta can travel.
Can be stopped by a thin metal. – Aluminium
The ionising power of beta minus is high then beta plus but it is still week.
Penetrating power of beta minus of plus is medium.

Beta radiation is deflected by magnetic fields and electric because they consist of charged particles.

Gamma
Gamma rays can travel 10 or 100 meters in air.
High levels of gamma can be stopped by lead.
Gamma radiation is the most penetrating, even small levels of gamma can penetrate air, paper or thin metal. The