Radiation:
As isotopes decay they emit radiation.
Amercium-241 (Am-241) decays by the emission of alpha
particles (4/2He) and gamma radiation to become Neptunium-237, shown in the nuclear decay equation below:
24195 Am --> 42He + 23793
Np
Neptunium-237 then decays through alpha emissions. This
chain of decay with cease when nuclear stability has been achieved, becoming
Bismuth-209.
Am-241 is detected by a Geiger-Muller tube counter. It contains gas which ionises and produces a small current of electricity, which is then measured by the number of pulses. Alpha radiation can be shielded by a thin sheet of paper and gamma rays are stopped by 5cm of lead.
Am-241 is detected by a Geiger-Muller tube counter. It contains gas which ionises and produces a small current of electricity, which is then measured by the number of pulses. Alpha radiation can be shielded by a thin sheet of paper and gamma rays are stopped by 5cm of lead.
No comments:
Post a Comment