Experiment 1d Class: Name: ( ) Date:

1d Penetrating power and range of

radiation

✐ Get to OUP web Objective

(http://nsspaw.oupchina.
com.hk) for Code of
To compare the penetrating power and the range of α, β and γ
Practice on the Use radiation using a Geiger-Müller counter.
of Sealed Radioactive
Sources for Teaching
Purposes in Schools.
(Click ‘Lesson Companion’
and then ‘Other Materials’.) Background information
1 The penetrating power of a radiation can be studied using a
Geiger-Müller counter (G-M counter). It is a device for measuring
the counts or the count rate of radiation at a certain position.

2 There is background radiation in the environment. The count rate of

background radiation should be subtracted from the measured count
rate to give a value due to the source only. The subtracted value is
called the corrected count rate.

Warning! S afety precautions MUST be followed

when handling the radioactive source.

Apparatus
❏ 1 α source (americium)
❏ 1 β source (strontium)
❏ 1 γ source (cobalt)
❏ 1 radioactive source lifting tool
❏ 1 scaler
❏ 1 G-M tube in holder
❏ 1 stop-watch
❏ 1 wooden block
❏ 1 metre rule
❏ several pieces of paper
❏ several sheets of aluminium
❏ several sheets of lead

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Class: Name: ( ) Date: Experiment 1d

Procedure
Background radiation
✐ The exact working 1 (a) Connect a G-M tube to a scaler or a ratemeter (Fig 1d-1). Set
voltage depends on the the voltage of the scaler to 400 V.
tube model as well as its
condition. Refer to your
scaler
laboratory record for the
suitable value.
If possible, connect a
loudspeaker/amplifier
unit to the scaler. The
count rate can then be
read from the display
on the scaler as well as
‘heard’ by the class.
The G-M tube used in
schools (Mullard MX168)
can detect β and γ
radiations, and only high
energy α particles. Its G-M tube in holder
mica end-window is not
Fig 1d-1
thin enough to admit low
energy α particles. The
americium source emits (b) Remove all radioactive sources (including those stored in
α radiation together with
containers) near the G-M tube.
a small amount of γ
radiation. It is likely that (c) Measure the total number of counts in 1 minute. Calculate the
the count rate measured
count rate in counts s–1. This is the count rate of background
is solely due to the γ
radiation. radiation.
✎ Background count rate = _______________________ counts s–1

Alpha radiation
2 (a) Place an α source (americium) 1 cm in front of the G-M tube
(Fig 1d-2).

scaler

B
source

radioactive source
lifting tool

wooden block G-M tube in holder

Fig 1d-2

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 Experiment 1d Class: Name: ( ) Date:

(b) Measure the total number of counts in 1 minute.

Note ✎ Corrected count rate = _______________________ counts s–1
Corrected count rate
= measured count rate – 3 Repeat the measurement and calculation for two times.
background count rate
This gives the count rate
is not
✎ The corrected count rate ____________________ (is/is not) a constant.
due to the radiation from
the α source only.
This shows that the emission of radiation from the source is a
random
____________________ (regular/random) process.

✐ When a piece of 4 (a) Insert a piece of paper between the α source and the G-M tube
paper is inserted, any (Fig 1d-3). Note the change in the count rate.
small decrease of the
count rate may be due (b) Insert more pieces of paper until the count rate drops to the
to the random fluctuation background count rate.
of the γ radiation (the
americium source also
emits some γ radiation).
scaler
The decrease has
to be significant to
be attributable to the
absorption of α radiation
by paper.

✐ Since α particle
B
source
cannot pass through a
sheet of paper, it will
not penetrate the skin radioactive source
lifting tool
of the human body. It
is, therefore, the least
hazardous among the wooden block absorber G-M tube in holder
three types of radiation.
Fig 1d-3

1 or 2
✎ α radiation is stopped by _______________________ piece(s) of paper.

5 (a) Remove all the paper. Slowly move the α source away from the
G-M tube until the count rate drops to the background count
rate.
(b) Measure the distance between the α source and the G-M tube.
This is the distance the α radiation travels before it is completely
absorbed by air. It is called the range of α radiation in air.
5
✎ Range of α radiation in air = _______________________ cm

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Class: Name: ( ) Date: Experiment 1d

Beta radiation
6 (a) Place a β source (strontium) 5 cm in front of the G-M tube.
(b) Measure the total number of counts in 1 minute.
Note ✎ Corrected count rate = _______________________ counts s–1
Corrected count rate
= measured count rate – 7 Insert aluminium sheets between the β source and the G-M tube
background count rate
This gives the count rate
until the count rate measured drops back to the background count
due to the radiation from rate.
the β source only.
5 mm
✐ Both β and γ ✎ β radiation is stopped by aluminium of _______________________
radiations have a very thick.
large range in air. Their
ranges are usually 8 Remove the aluminium. Slowly move the β source away from the G-M
expressed in terms
of the thickness of
tube until the separation between them is 50 cm. Note the change in
aluminium or lead. the count rate.
does not drop
✎ The count rate _______________________ (drops/does not drop) to
the background count rate.

Gamma radiation
9 (a) Place a γ source (cobalt) 5 cm in front of the G-M tube.
(b) Measure the total number of counts in 1 minute.
Note ✎ Corrected count rate = _______________________ counts s–1
Corrected count rate
= measured count rate – 10 Insert lead sheets between the γ source and the G-M tube. Note the
background count rate
This gives the count rate
change in the count rate.
due to the radiation from does not drop
the γ source only.
✎ The count rate _______________________ (drops/does not drop)
to the background count rate. This shows that γ radiation
is not
_______________________ (is/is not) stopped completely by lead.

11 Remove the lead. Slowly move the γ source away from the G-M tube
until the separation between them is 50 cm. Note the change in the
count rate.
does not drop
✎ The count rate _______________________ (drops/does not drop) to
the background count rate.

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 Experiment 1d Class: Name: ( ) Date:

Discussion
✎ Arrange α, β and γ radiation in descending order of penetrating
power.
γ, β, α

1 α radiation is stopped by 1–2 sheets of paper ,β

radiation is stopped by 5 mm of aluminium and γ
radiation is partially stopped by lead sheets .

2 Penetrating power of nuclear radiation:

γ > β > α

3 The range of α radiation in air is 5 cm . The range

of β and γ radiation in air is much longer

(longer/shorter).

Further thinking
✎ A radium source emits α, β and γ radiation. According to the
experimental results, explain why the photographic film in
Experiment 1a is not blackened by the α radiation emitted by the
radium source.
The penetrating power of α radiation is low. It cannot penetrate the plastic wrappings

to reach the film.

14 New Physics at Work (Second Edition) © Oxford University Press 2007