Alpha particle b.Gamma particle c.Beta particle

This particle cannot penetrate very far into other materials Alpha

c. Beta particle

The particle that cannot penetrate very far into other materials is the alpha particle. To understand why, let's consider the properties of each particle mentioned and how they interact with matter.

a) Alpha particle: An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons, which makes it a helium nucleus. It carries a positive charge and has a relatively large mass compared to other particles. Due to its size and positive charge, an alpha particle interacts strongly with matter. When it collides with atoms in a material, it loses energy quickly through multiple interactions, causing it to slow down and stop within a short distance. As a result, alpha particles can only penetrate a few centimeters of air or a few millimeters of other materials, such as paper or skin. They can be stopped by a sheet of paper or a few centimeters of air.

b) Gamma particle: Gamma particles, or gamma rays, are high-energy electromagnetic waves. Unlike alpha particles, which have mass and charge, gamma particles carry no charge and have no mass. These properties allow gamma particles to pass through matter more easily. Gamma rays can penetrate deeply into materials and require dense materials like lead or concrete to significantly reduce their intensity.

c) Beta particle: Beta particles are high-energy electrons or positrons emitted during certain types of radioactive decay. They have a negative charge and much smaller mass than alpha particles. Beta particles interact with matter through electromagnetic forces. Although they are more penetrating than alpha particles, they still have limited ability to penetrate materials. Depending on their energy, beta particles can typically penetrate a few millimeters to a few centimeters of materials, such as aluminum or plastic.

To summarize, while alpha particles have the least penetration ability among the three options, gamma particles can penetrate deeply into materials, and beta particles have intermediate penetration ability.