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LIBON COMMUNITY COLLEGE Libon, Albay Name: Sandino C. Romano Objectives: 1.

To determine the penetrating power and the range in air of the three radioactive emissions alpha, beta and gamma. Materials: Gm Tube, Clamp Stand, The Counter Thing, Ruler, Set-Square Yr. & Sec.: III-B Date: Rating:

Procedure: We started the experiment by making sure the radioactive source was aligned with a ruler to the GM tube as accurately as possible so that the maximum radiation is measured. A set square was used to measure the exact point at which the source and tube were placed. The counter was reset each time so the counter read zero so this would reduce zero error in the experiment and the hold button was pressed to freeze the measurement. Thirty seconds were left between the start of the count and the recording so the reading would be less instantaneous and more reliable. Everything was kept constant for all three experiments and the counts were recorded at regular intervals of 5 cm. Observation: 1. What do you observe after counting the alpha particle in different thickness of a paper? As the thickness of the paper increases the counts per minute of alpha particles decreases. This is true because alpha particles cannot pass through paper. This also agrees to with text as a sheet of paper stops alpha

2. What do you observe after counting the beta particle using aluminum in different thickness? As the thickness of the aluminum increases the counts per minute of alpha particles decreases. This true because alpha particle cannot pass through 1mm aluminum. It can be seen that some beta particles were still absorbed when the thickness of the aluminum was more than 1mm whereas in the text book it says that beta is stopped by 1mm of aluminum which my experiment doest actually prove to be correct as beta particles are stopped after 2.5mm of aluminum. By 3mm thickness the power is reduced from about 1231 to 7 counts per minute. 3. In gamma ray, what do you observe in its particle after increasing the thickness of lead and papers? As the thickness of the paper increases the counts per minute of gamma rays decreases. This is true because gamma rays cannot pass through lead. The penetrating power of the gamma radiation decreased as the thickness of the lead absorber increased however it is more a linear graph rather than a curve graph therefore suggesting that the gamma still had a considerable amount of power left. This supports the textbook which states that the radiation is stopped by several centimeters of lead. Generalization: What are the results or the outcomes after you observe the entire radioactivity of alpha, beta and gamma ray? The results were quite accurate as they corresponded with evidence in the AS/A2 Physics (Mee, Cundell, Arnold and Brown) and the Nelson Modular Science (Mark Elise and Chris Honey) books. The results were precise as they followed a nearly uniform pattern of an exponential graph. However in some of the graphs the results were a bit anomalous. For example on the Beta particles graph the beta particles were was absorbed by 1mm aluminum which isnt really correct as beta particles should be stopped after about 2.5mm of aluminum

Application: What are the usage of radioactivity and radioactive decay medicine, industry, the home, the arts and sciences, and electric power generation? Medicine Nuclear medicine Nuclear medicine is a branch of medicine and medical imaging that uses the nuclear properties of matter in diagnosis and therapy. Radiotherapy Radiation therapy (or radiotherapy) is the medical use of ionizing radiation as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells. The radiation may be given in the form of external beam radiotherapy of high-energy electrons or X-rays, or it may come from radioactive sources placed inside the patient. Radioactive tracers Radioactive tracers are radioactive substances added in minute amounts to the reacting elements or compounds in a chemical process and traced through the process by appropriate detection methods, e.g., Geiger counter. Compounds containing tracers are often said to be tagged or labeled.

Industry and the Home o The isotope 252Cf (a neutron emitter) is used in neutron activation analysis to inspect airline luggage for hidden explosives, to gauge the moisture content of soil and other materials, in bore hole logging in geology, and in human cervix-cancer therapy. o In paper mills, the thickness of the paper can be controlled by measuring how much beta radiation passes through the paper to a Geiger counter. The counter controls the pressure of the rollers to give the correct thickness. o Checking Welds. If a gamma source is placed on one side of the welded metal, and a photographic film on the other side, weak points or air bubbles will show up on the film. o Foodstuffs can be irradiated to extend shelf life or reduce the numbers of harmful bacteria. o Improve material properties, particularly in polymers, curing adhesives and resins, improvement of gemstones, wire and cable jacket curing, tire manufacture. o Smoke alarms contain a weak source made of Americium-241. Alpha particles are emitted that ionize the air, so that the air conducts electricity and a small current flows. If smoke enters the alarm, this absorbs the a particles, the current reduces, and the alarm sounds.

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