How does the penetrating ability of gamma

A comparison of alpha, beta and gamma. Penetrating power Each type of radiation has a different ability to penetrate materials. The range of the alpha radiation in an absorbing material is less than that of beta or gamma. The alpha radiation transfers more energy to an absorber than beta or gamma radiation. Alpha radiation is absorbed by the thickness of the skin or by a few centimetres of air.

Beta radiation is more penetrating than alpha radiation. It can pass through the skin, but it is absorbed by a few centimetres of body tissue or a few millimetres of aluminium. Gamma radiation is the most penetrating of the three radiations.

It can easily penetrate body tissue. It requires several centimetres of lead or about 1 metre of concrete to absorb it. The table below shows the properties of each type of ionising radiation Radiation Range cm Ionising power Can pass through paper? Most resources say that beta particles can be stopped by a one-quarter inch thick sheet of aluminum. Once again, however, the greatest danger occurs when the beta emitting source gets inside of you. Gamma rays are not particles but a high energy form of electromagnetic radiation like x-rays except more powerful.

Gamma rays are energy that has no mass or charge. Gamma rays have tremendous penetration power and require several inches of dense material like lead to shield them. Gamma rays may pass all the way through a human body without striking anything. They are considered to have the least ionizing power and the greatest penetration power.

The safest amount of radiation to the human body is zero. It isn't possible to be exposed to no ionizing radiation so the next best goal is to be exposed to as little as possible. The two best ways to minimize exposure is to limit time of exposure and to increase distance from the source. Austin State University with contributing authors. Read the material at the link below and answer the following questions:.

Skip to main content. Nuclear Chemistry. Search for:. Describe the penetrating ability of different radioactive emissions. Figure 1. Penetrating ability of radioactive emissions. Licenses and Attributions. CC licensed content, Shared previously.