Radiation Shielding

Introduction

Alpha, beta, gamma, and X-rays can pass through matter, but can also be absorbed or scattered in varying degrees depending on the material and on the type and energy of the radiation. Medical X-ray images are possible because bones absorb X-rays more so than do soft tissues. Strongly radioactive sources are often stored in heavy lead boxes to shield the local environment from the radiation.

Some materials absorb beta rays. A sheet of common cardboard will absorb some of the betas, but will allow most to pass through. You can measure this absorption by fixing a beta source and a radiation monitor so their positions do not change, and then inserting layers of cardboard between them.

Objectives

In this experiment, you will

• Develop a model for the absorption of beta radiation by matter.
• Use a radiation counter to study how the radiation emitted by a beta source is absorbed by cardboard.
• Test the model against experimental data to determine its validity.

Sensors and Equipment

This experiment features the following Vernier sensors and equipment.

Additional Requirements

You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?