Energy and Place
- How does energy production and consumption impact place?
- How does your sense of place, environmental ethic and understanding of our energy needs influence your perception and decisions relating to energy production and consumption?
Radiation Shielding of α, β, and Ɣ Radiation with Various Materials
ABSTRACT:
In this experiment, I will be testing the penetration of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation by using various items to shield a Geiger counter (radiation detector) from these types of radiation.. This lab also provides a better understanding of how well these common items can protect against these sources. The materials used to conduct this test were: a Geiger counter, a laptop, radiation sources of alpha, beta, and gamma, a computer interface, a paper sheet, an aluminum sheet, and a mass of ballistic gel. Conducting this experiment was helpful for finding out the shielding abilities of different materials against different types of radiation as well as how these types of radiation effect and penetrate different surfaces. This kind of test should be further explored in the field of nuclear fusion to contain radioactive material and dispose of it properly. It also can be groundbreaking science in finding a solution to areas of the world that have been contaminated.
INTRODUCTION:
Nuclear powerplants
Since 1939, the human race has been exploring nuclear fission as a means to producing usable energy. The problem with nuclear energy is that it presents a hazard to living organisms as well as the environment. In 1986, a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl had a meltdown and spread radioactive dust across a large section of europe. It has caused a major bio hazard to the locals and wildlife including mutations in cells and DNA causing defects at birth and poor living conditions for Europeans. Since that meltdown, scientists and workers have taken extra precaution and developments to ensure the stability of modern nuclear power plants.
Gamma Radiation
Nuclear power plants produce mainly gamma radiation which is a projection of light waves that can pass through almost anything that has low density such as living flesh and can travel relatively long distances depending on the mass, area, and concentration of the source. The same radiation is found in x-rays which is why gamma rays are used in these machines- because gamma rays can pass through soft tissue and reflect off of dense bone to project an image.
Radioactive Decay and Emission
Radioactive decay is when a radioactive substance undergoes a “half-life” in which that substance loses half of the particles that make it radioactive weather it be electrons, protons, positrons, or neutrinos. Radiation is emitted when nuclear matter decays and loses atomic energy by getting rid of electrons to form in a stable state. This concept applies to alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, though alpha and beta particles aren’t as much of a concern as gamma radiation. Nowadays, scientists aspire to develop new and safer ways to contain and dispose of nuclear waste until the waste becomes stable and safe enough to be in proximity without concern.
Background of the Experiment
In this experiment, I will be testing the penetration of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation by using various items to shield a Geiger counter (radiation detector) from these types of radiation. These items include: a sheet of paper, an aluminum sheet, ballistic gel, (imitates soft tissue) and for a comparison of the amount of radiation shielded by each item, a test with no shield. The purpose of this activity is to evaluate how certain materials with various thicknesses and densities block radioactive particles. This is important to find out because in the case of a nuclear meltdown, explosion or radiation in general, we can apply what we know about shielding as a means to protecting people or equipment.
METHODS:
Before starting the test, Safety precautions must be taken to prevent self harm or lab hazards. Safety eyewear was required beyond a certain point and the radioactive material had to be handled with caution. To conduct this test, the first thing that needed to be done was download “Vernier Logger Pro” on my laptop. This allows for data to be recorded when the tests are being conducted. Then, a Vernier Labquest Mini interface is connected to the USB port on the laptop. The last step of the setup is to connect the Geiger counter (radiation counter) to the computer interface. Now the experiment was ready to be conducted, the Geiger counter is placed in an appropriate space with a ruler starting at the mouth of the Geiger counter where the radiation is collected. Then, a distance is determined that is appropriate for all three types of radiation sources (in this case, I used three inches). Next, I placed whatever object I was testing as a shield at the mouth of the Geiger counter and started recording the data. The first test conducted was performed without a shield. This allowed for a good comparison of data with each source of radiation to be compared to the background radiation. The next test was done by placing a simple sheet of paper in front of the Geiger counter to see how a thin, low density object stands against shielding of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation particles. The next test down the line was done with a sheet of aluminum. This aluminum sheet was thicker than a sheet of paper and since being made of metal, is more dense. The third shield used was a self integrated method that I found necessary to the content, and curiosity- construct ballistic gel that imitates the density of human flesh to see how radiation particles are blocked or pass through living tissue.
HAZARDS:
When conducting this experiment, the radiation sources are kept in a lead container to prevent harm to anyone within proximity. Although a lot of the sources aren’t very concentrated due to numerous half-lives, it is still important to use caution since the penetrating abilities of the gamma radiation sources are still dangerous. Also, alpha and beta sources may not be lethal in close proximity, but when handling all the sources in one space, it is somewhat important to use one source at a time while the other sources remain in the lead container. Some effects experienced with radiation are cell mutations including cancer, tissue damage, and radiation sickness.
DISCUSSION:
This experiment is important in finding out how different elements or substances turn their excess energy into radiation particles and how we as a civilization use this process to our advantage by turning it into usable energy, create mechanisms such as smoke detectors, x-rays, and the nuclear bomb as well as how we can safely dispose of the waste and protect ourselves from the particles. Another benefit of this project is discovering how radiation can be harmful with different types, concentrations, and proximities. In this test, I designed the ballistic gel to imitate radiation particles passing through something with the same density of flesh. In other words, how well radiation can pass through a human being to possibly cause harm. In the experiment, the ballistic gel was much thicker than every other shield that was used. It might not have been as dense as the aluminum, however the particles had to pass through a larger mass and volume, therefore skewing some of the results. With alpha and beta radiation, the gel stood a better chance against shielding these particles than paper or aluminum would have, but when testing against gamma radiation, aluminum shielded the Geiger counter much more effectively than the gel because gamma radiation, being composed of light particles, passes through any soft or low density material, while when hitting a substance like aluminum is more easily deflected because of it’s density, restricts the passage of these particles despite the thickness.
ABSTRACT:
In this experiment, I will be testing the penetration of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation by using various items to shield a Geiger counter (radiation detector) from these types of radiation.. This lab also provides a better understanding of how well these common items can protect against these sources. The materials used to conduct this test were: a Geiger counter, a laptop, radiation sources of alpha, beta, and gamma, a computer interface, a paper sheet, an aluminum sheet, and a mass of ballistic gel. Conducting this experiment was helpful for finding out the shielding abilities of different materials against different types of radiation as well as how these types of radiation effect and penetrate different surfaces. This kind of test should be further explored in the field of nuclear fusion to contain radioactive material and dispose of it properly. It also can be groundbreaking science in finding a solution to areas of the world that have been contaminated.
INTRODUCTION:
Nuclear powerplants
Since 1939, the human race has been exploring nuclear fission as a means to producing usable energy. The problem with nuclear energy is that it presents a hazard to living organisms as well as the environment. In 1986, a nuclear power plant in Chernobyl had a meltdown and spread radioactive dust across a large section of europe. It has caused a major bio hazard to the locals and wildlife including mutations in cells and DNA causing defects at birth and poor living conditions for Europeans. Since that meltdown, scientists and workers have taken extra precaution and developments to ensure the stability of modern nuclear power plants.
Gamma Radiation
Nuclear power plants produce mainly gamma radiation which is a projection of light waves that can pass through almost anything that has low density such as living flesh and can travel relatively long distances depending on the mass, area, and concentration of the source. The same radiation is found in x-rays which is why gamma rays are used in these machines- because gamma rays can pass through soft tissue and reflect off of dense bone to project an image.
Radioactive Decay and Emission
Radioactive decay is when a radioactive substance undergoes a “half-life” in which that substance loses half of the particles that make it radioactive weather it be electrons, protons, positrons, or neutrinos. Radiation is emitted when nuclear matter decays and loses atomic energy by getting rid of electrons to form in a stable state. This concept applies to alpha, beta, and gamma radiation, though alpha and beta particles aren’t as much of a concern as gamma radiation. Nowadays, scientists aspire to develop new and safer ways to contain and dispose of nuclear waste until the waste becomes stable and safe enough to be in proximity without concern.
Background of the Experiment
In this experiment, I will be testing the penetration of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation by using various items to shield a Geiger counter (radiation detector) from these types of radiation. These items include: a sheet of paper, an aluminum sheet, ballistic gel, (imitates soft tissue) and for a comparison of the amount of radiation shielded by each item, a test with no shield. The purpose of this activity is to evaluate how certain materials with various thicknesses and densities block radioactive particles. This is important to find out because in the case of a nuclear meltdown, explosion or radiation in general, we can apply what we know about shielding as a means to protecting people or equipment.
METHODS:
Before starting the test, Safety precautions must be taken to prevent self harm or lab hazards. Safety eyewear was required beyond a certain point and the radioactive material had to be handled with caution. To conduct this test, the first thing that needed to be done was download “Vernier Logger Pro” on my laptop. This allows for data to be recorded when the tests are being conducted. Then, a Vernier Labquest Mini interface is connected to the USB port on the laptop. The last step of the setup is to connect the Geiger counter (radiation counter) to the computer interface. Now the experiment was ready to be conducted, the Geiger counter is placed in an appropriate space with a ruler starting at the mouth of the Geiger counter where the radiation is collected. Then, a distance is determined that is appropriate for all three types of radiation sources (in this case, I used three inches). Next, I placed whatever object I was testing as a shield at the mouth of the Geiger counter and started recording the data. The first test conducted was performed without a shield. This allowed for a good comparison of data with each source of radiation to be compared to the background radiation. The next test was done by placing a simple sheet of paper in front of the Geiger counter to see how a thin, low density object stands against shielding of alpha, beta, and gamma radiation particles. The next test down the line was done with a sheet of aluminum. This aluminum sheet was thicker than a sheet of paper and since being made of metal, is more dense. The third shield used was a self integrated method that I found necessary to the content, and curiosity- construct ballistic gel that imitates the density of human flesh to see how radiation particles are blocked or pass through living tissue.
HAZARDS:
When conducting this experiment, the radiation sources are kept in a lead container to prevent harm to anyone within proximity. Although a lot of the sources aren’t very concentrated due to numerous half-lives, it is still important to use caution since the penetrating abilities of the gamma radiation sources are still dangerous. Also, alpha and beta sources may not be lethal in close proximity, but when handling all the sources in one space, it is somewhat important to use one source at a time while the other sources remain in the lead container. Some effects experienced with radiation are cell mutations including cancer, tissue damage, and radiation sickness.
DISCUSSION:
This experiment is important in finding out how different elements or substances turn their excess energy into radiation particles and how we as a civilization use this process to our advantage by turning it into usable energy, create mechanisms such as smoke detectors, x-rays, and the nuclear bomb as well as how we can safely dispose of the waste and protect ourselves from the particles. Another benefit of this project is discovering how radiation can be harmful with different types, concentrations, and proximities. In this test, I designed the ballistic gel to imitate radiation particles passing through something with the same density of flesh. In other words, how well radiation can pass through a human being to possibly cause harm. In the experiment, the ballistic gel was much thicker than every other shield that was used. It might not have been as dense as the aluminum, however the particles had to pass through a larger mass and volume, therefore skewing some of the results. With alpha and beta radiation, the gel stood a better chance against shielding these particles than paper or aluminum would have, but when testing against gamma radiation, aluminum shielded the Geiger counter much more effectively than the gel because gamma radiation, being composed of light particles, passes through any soft or low density material, while when hitting a substance like aluminum is more easily deflected because of it’s density, restricts the passage of these particles despite the thickness.
Project Reflection
During my capstone lab experiment, I learned that science can be found in anything that one chooses to be interested in. I also learned that you should expect the unexpected when conducting an experiment because very predictable situations can wield chaotic and random results. My capstone lab involved radiation shielding of 3 different radiation sources with varying penetration ability. The outcome of the experiment turned out to be in some cases, the opposite of what I expected, however with analyzing the variables and possibilities, scientists can make sense of these results.
Also, through this project and class content, I learned about how radioactive material can be turned into usable energy as well as how to safely dispose of the hazardous waste produced after the material has been used. In addition, this project gave me several insights to how the energy emitted from these substances can prove harmful to organic masses through both my lab results and research.
My view of energy has changed through the design of my infographic in the context of how we use radiation to power nuclear power plants as well as what type of radiation and sources we use. I used to think that nuclear power plants were a hazard to the environment due to the media and the incident in Chernobyl, however, over the course of chemistry's energy and place and the numerous projects, I learned that nuclear power plants are very safe because they release only steam into the atmosphere which is 100 percent harmless.
Through the creation of my infographic, I was simply trying to convey and educate about different types of radiation, the properties of their abilities, and what common items you can find these types of radiation in.
Also, through this project and class content, I learned about how radioactive material can be turned into usable energy as well as how to safely dispose of the hazardous waste produced after the material has been used. In addition, this project gave me several insights to how the energy emitted from these substances can prove harmful to organic masses through both my lab results and research.
My view of energy has changed through the design of my infographic in the context of how we use radiation to power nuclear power plants as well as what type of radiation and sources we use. I used to think that nuclear power plants were a hazard to the environment due to the media and the incident in Chernobyl, however, over the course of chemistry's energy and place and the numerous projects, I learned that nuclear power plants are very safe because they release only steam into the atmosphere which is 100 percent harmless.
Through the creation of my infographic, I was simply trying to convey and educate about different types of radiation, the properties of their abilities, and what common items you can find these types of radiation in.