3 ms·
Alpha particle strike - two protons plus two electrons, emitted when a heavy radioactive element decays into a lighter element. Alpha particle is the same as
by georgecmu 12y ago
Alpha particle strike - two protons plus two electrons, emitted when a heavy radioactive element decays into a lighter element.
Alpha particle is the same as a Helium nucleus, so it has 2 more neutrons and 2 fewer electrons than the article claims.
Cosmic ray strike - a high energy neutron (or other particle) emitted by the Sun.
On the contrary, cosmic rays are very high energy particles mainly originating outside the Solar system.
These particles are gradually absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere, so they are more of a problem in orbit and at high altitude.
What does it mean for a particle to be "gradually absorbed"?
- thedufer 12y ago> What does it mean for a particle to be "gradually absorbed"? I assume it means that the number of particles decreases smoothly as altitude decreases, as opposed to largely being absorbed at distinct altitudes (as one might expect the radiation belts to do, perhaps).