Practice question

ionizing ability depends on mass, charge, and velocity. Alpha particles are helium nuclei with double positive charge and large mass, moving slowly, thus interacting intensely with atoms over short path, creating dense ion pairs. Beta particles are lighter, faster electrons causing moderate ionization. Gamma rays and X-rays are massless photons interacting sparsely, producing secondary electrons with low linear energy transfer. Consequently, for an equal energy, alpha radiation deposits maximum energy per micrometer of tissue, causing severe localized damage despite minimal penetration, explaining highest ionizing capacity.