What type of radiation has a positive charge?

Alpha radiation consists of particles that are positively charged, specifically, they are made up of two protons and two neutrons, which is essentially a helium nucleus. This positive charge means that when alpha particles are emitted during radioactive decay, they can interact strongly with matter, leading to significant ionization over a short distance.

In contrast, beta radiation involves the emission of electrons or positrons, which are negatively or positively charged respectively, but the common form associated with beta decay is the electron, making this type of radiation not positively charged overall. Gamma radiation comprises high-energy photons, which are neutral and carry no charge, allowing them to penetrate materials more easily but without associated ionization. X-ray radiation, similar to gamma rays, is also made up of photons and is neutral in charge. Thus, the defining characteristic of alpha radiation being made of positively charged particles distinguishes it clearly from the other types listed.