How does gamma ray emission make an atom more stable?

Question

One of the types of radioactive emissions is gamma emission. I understand how the other two types, alpha and beta, help to make the atom more stable. How exactly does gamma emission help to make the atom more stable?

Answer 1

When a nucleus makes an alpha or beta decay, usually it's left in an excited state. It can make the transition to lower energy state by emitting gamma rays, so in a sense, the atom is more "stable" because the nucleus is in a lower energy state.

I am not sure if this answer your question. Hope it helps.

Answer 2

The nucleus has quantized energy levels. The emission of gamma rays is a transition from a higher energy level to a lower energy level.