why are alpha and beta radiation referred to as particles while gamma radiation is referred to as rays?

Alpha and beta particles really are particles in that sense of the word. The alpha particle is a helium nucleus and a beta particle is an electron. A gamma is a ray; i.e., an electromagnetic wave much like a radio or TV wave (but a much shorter wavelength and much higher energy).

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Alpha and beta radiation are referred to as particles because they involve the emission of actual particles from unstable atomic nuclei.

Alpha particles are made up of two protons and two neutrons, which is essentially the nucleus of a helium atom. These particles are positively charged and relatively large, so they have a low penetrating power. They can be stopped by a sheet of paper or a few centimeters of air.

Beta particles, on the other hand, are high-energy electrons (beta-minus) or positrons (beta-plus) emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay. These particles are smaller and have a greater penetrating power than alpha particles. They can be blocked by a few millimeters of aluminum or a few meters of air.

Gamma radiation, on the other hand, is referred to as rays because it does not consist of particles. Gamma rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation, similar to X-rays, radio waves, and light. They have no mass or charge and are highly penetrating. Gamma rays can pass through several centimeters of lead or concrete. They are typically represented as waves rather than particles because they exhibit properties of electromagnetic waves, such as wavelength and frequency.

To summarize, alpha and beta radiation are referred to as particles because they involve the emission of actual particles from the nucleus. Gamma radiation is referred to as rays because it consists of high-energy electromagnetic waves.