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Gamma Rays To Penetrate Lead

The document describes an experiment to investigate how gamma ray count rate decreases as gamma rays pass through increasing thicknesses of lead. It provides data from such an experiment and instructions on how to: 1) Confirm a radiation source emits gamma rays using a simple experiment. 2) Explain why a graph of the natural logarithm of count rate vs. thickness should be a straight line. 3) Plot a graph from the experimental data and determine the constant μ from the line of best fit.

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Md. Kutub Uddin
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90 views2 pages

Gamma Rays To Penetrate Lead

The document describes an experiment to investigate how gamma ray count rate decreases as gamma rays pass through increasing thicknesses of lead. It provides data from such an experiment and instructions on how to: 1) Confirm a radiation source emits gamma rays using a simple experiment. 2) Explain why a graph of the natural logarithm of count rate vs. thickness should be a straight line. 3) Plot a graph from the experimental data and determine the constant μ from the line of best fit.

Uploaded by

Md. Kutub Uddin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

You are to plan an experiment to investigate the ability of gamma rays to penetrate lead.

You are
then to analyse a set of data from such an experiment.
(a) You have a source of radiation and a detector and counter. Describe briefly a simple experiment
to confirm that the source emits gamma radiation. (3)

(b) For gamma rays passing through lead of thickness x, the count rate A is given by
A = A0 e–μx
where A0 is the count rate when there is no lead between source and detector, and μ is a constant.
Explain why a graph of ln A against x should be a straight line. (2)
(c) The following data were obtained in such an investigation.
The background count was 40/minute.

x/mm Measured Count Corrected Count ln A


Rate/minute-1 Rate (A)/ minute-1
0 1002 962

6.30 739

12.74 553

19.04 394

25.44 304 264

31.74 232
Use the column(s) provided for your processed data, and then plot a suitable graph on graph paper
to show that these data are consistent with A = A0 e–μx. Your data should be quoted to a suitable
degree of accuracy. (6)

(d) Use your graph to determine a value for the constant μ. (2)

5. (a) Record background count (rate) (1)


Place thick aluminium/thin lead between source & detector (1)
OR Distance greater than 25 cm between source and detector (1)
Count rate detected above background
5 (b) ln A = –μx + ln Ao
and identifies –μ as gradient (2)
5 (c) Corrected count rate to at least 3SF and with correct units (1)
and ln A to at least 3SF and with correct units (1)
Axes labelled for suitable graph (ignore units) (1)
Suitable scales (1)
Plots (1)
Line (1)
5 (e) Triangle base at least 40 small squares
and correct calculation of gradient (ignore sign and unit) (1)
μ = 0.050 to 0.052 mm-1 with unit and 2/3SF (no ecf) (1)
Example of calculation:
5.40 – 6.86
=0.0507 m m−1
28.8 – 0

x/mm Measured Count Corrected Count ln A


Rate/minute-1 Rate (A)/ minute-1
0 1002 962 6.87
6.30 739 699 6.55
12.74 553 513 6.24
19.04 394 354 5.87
25.44 304 264 5.58
31.74 232 192 5.26

(Total for Question 5 = 13 marks)

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