Uses of Radiation Flashcards

All 5 cards in this deck

Which type of radiation is used in a smoke alarm, and why?

Alpha, because it ionises the air but has a very short range so it cannot escape the alarm.

Which type of radiation is used to monitor the thickness of thin sheets of metal or paper, and why?

Beta, because it partly passes through the sheet so the count-rate changes if the thickness changes.

Which type of radiation is used as a tracer to find leaks in underground pipes, and why?

Gamma, because it is penetrating enough to pass through the soil and be detected at the surface.

True or false? An alpha source would be a good choice for a tracer that must be detected from outside a sealed container.

False. Alpha is stopped by the container walls; a gamma source is needed.

Why is beta, rather than gamma, chosen for a thickness gauge for thin aluminium sheet?

Gamma would pass straight through whatever the thickness, so the count-rate would barely change.