When measuring radioactive things why is it important not to change the distance between the shielded readings and the unshielded readings?

Respuesta :

By changing the distance between the radioactive source and the sensor, the number of detained particles is affected, therefore the results change. For the radiation reading to be reliable, the distance between the sensor and the radioactive source must be constant.

Radioactivity is the means by which unstable materials decay into more stable materials, there are three main types of decay:

  • Alpha particles. They are the emission of helium nuclei from the atom, this nucleus has 2 positive charges and 4 atomic mass units, one of its main characteristics is that they are quickly stopped by the air
  • Particular beta. They are electons that come out of the atomic nucleus, accompanied by some neutrinos, these beta rays are stopped by the materials at different distances depending on their energy
  • Gamma rays. They are high-energy electromagnetic waves that can travel a long distance before being stopped.

When measurements of these radioactive emissions are being made, they are stopped by matter for different distances, so if the distance between the source and the detector is changed, the number of the individual can change, altering the result of the experiment.

This occurs both if the experiment is carried out with shielding so that the environment does not affect the average or if it is performed without shielding where the environment can affect the average due to the change in the background signal that depends on the environment.

In summary, when changing the distance, the number of stopped particles is affected by which the results change.

In conclusion, for the radiation reading to be reliable, the distance between the sensor and the radioactive source must be constant.

learn more about radioactivity here

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