# A technician handles two different radioactive sources. One source emits alpha radiation and the other emits gamma radiation. The technician is standing one metre away from each source. Explain why the gamma source presents the greater radiation hazard to the technician at this distance, while the alpha source would present the greater hazard if the technician accidentally swallowed it.

> Eduqas GCSE Physics — 9.2 Absorption and emission of ionising radiations · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Alpha radiation has a very short range in air (a few centimetres) so it cannot reach the technician from one metre away
2. Gamma radiation has a very long range / can travel large distances through air, so it can reach the technician from one metre away
3. If swallowed, alpha radiation is highly ionising, so it causes significant damage to body tissues / cells from inside the body
4. Gamma radiation is weakly ionising, so it causes less damage to surrounding tissues / passes through the body with little interaction

## Key terms

- [alpha radiation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/alpha-radiation)
- [gamma radiation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/gamma-radiation)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas GCSE Physics](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-technician-handles-two-different-radioactive-ee1f2f2d) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.