Industrial Radiography Radiation Safety Personnel (IRRSP) Certification Practice Exam 2025 – Comprehensive Prep Resource

Alpha particles are composed of two protons and two neutrons, which is the same composition found in the nucleus of a helium atom. This fundamental structure is why alpha particles are often identified as being equivalent to a helium nucleus.

Understanding the composition is crucial because alpha particles arise from the radioactive decay of heavier elements, and during this decay, the emitted alpha particle is essentially a helium nucleus. This is significant in radiation safety and industrial radiography, as alpha particles have distinct properties that differentiate them from other forms of radiation, such as beta particles or gamma rays.

The other options do not possess the same structural makeup as alpha particles. While carbon and hydrogen atoms consist of protons and neutrons, they do not match the specific two-proton, two-neutron arrangement of a helium nucleus. Neutron stars, on the other hand, are incredibly dense remnants of supernova explosions, dominated by neutrons, and do not correspond to the composition of alpha particles either.