EXPERIMENT N-4

TITLE : ATTENUATION OF (BETA) PARTICLES IN ALUMINIUM OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this experiment is to study the absorption of particles in order to determine the necessary parameters associated with particles shields. THEORY: The process by which particles lose energy in absorbers is similar to that of (alpha) particles. The particle is not as massive and hence, its specific ionization is not as great as for the particles. In air, particles travel only a few centimeters where s will generally travel many feet. The thickness and choice of material for shielding radiation depends on the end-point energy of the isotope and on the Bremsstrahlung radiation that is always present for a source. In general, the shielding thickness that is necessary to stop s of a given end-point energy will decrease with increasing density of the shield. For example, 0.1 in. of Aluminum will stop 1.5 MeV radiation. For lead, 0.024 in. will do the same job. The Bremsstrahlung production in the shielding must also be considered. This production rate increases with the atomic number of the absorber. So, for the reason, Aluminum or even glass might be the best and cheapest effective shield in the case of the pure emitting isotope. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS: 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. ORTEC 903 End-Window Geiger Tube 2. ORTEC 906 GM Pulse Inverter ORTEC 456 High Voltage Power Supply ORTEC 775 Counter ORTEC 719 Timer ORTEC 401A/402A Bin and Power Supply
204

Ti

Aluminum absorbers BNC cables 1

10.

Tweezer

PROCEDURE: 1. The electronics is set up as shown in Figure 1. 2. The voltage of the Gieger tube is set at its operating value. 3. The 775 Counter is set at minimum threshold. 4. The
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Ti source is placed about 10cm from the window of the Gieger tube.

The absorber is sure that can be inserted between the source and the detector without disturbing the geometry. 5. The 719 Timer is adjusted for 400 seconds [set the preset to 4,multiplier at 1K and time base to 0.1 seconds], without an absorber, press the start button and record the count in Table 1. 6. The first aluminum absorber (129 mg/cm2) is placed in position between the source and the GM tube and count for 400 seconds. 7. Experiment is repeated for the other thickness of absorber and times as listed in Table 1. 8. The source is removed to obtain a background count for 1000 seconds.

DATA AND ANALYSIS A) Data 2

Table 1: Absorption in Aluminum HV Power Supply = 850V Background count for 1000seconds = 375 counts Background count for 400 seconds= 150 counts No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Thickness (mg/cm2) 0 129 161 206 258 328 419 516 590 645 849 Time (seconds) 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 1000 1000 1000 1000 Counts 3619 305 277 276 259 230 222 540 532 517 495 Counting Rate Minus Background (cps) (3619-150)/400 = 8.6725 (305-150)/400 = 0.3875 (277-150)/400 = 0.3175 (276-150)/400 = 0.3150 (259-150)/400 = 0.2725 (230-150)/400 = 0.2000 (222-150)/400 = 0.1800 (540-375)/1000 = 0.1650 (532-375)/1000 = 0.1570 (517-375)/1000 = 0.1420 (495-375)/1000 = 0.1200

Table 2: Approximate Range of Electrons of Various Energies in Aluminum Energy (MeV) 0.010 0.020 0.030 0.040 0.050 0.080 Range (mg/cm2) 0.20 0.75 1.40 2.60 4.00 9.00 3

0.100 0.200 0.300 0.400 0.500 1.000 B) Analysis

12.00 40.00 80.00 120.00 160.00 500.00

Graph counting rate versus absorber thickness

DISCUSSION

1. The activity does not decrease until to zero as the absorber thickness increasing. This is because existing of background counts in surrounding area. Therefore it will affect our true experiment reading. As a result, we should subtract the background count before any analysis. The background counts are some of the radiation present in surrounding, which contributes to the counting rate even though it does not emit from the source, for example radiation from computer in laboratory.

2. For the Table 1, we can observe that when the thickness of the absorber increases, then the counts rate will be decrease. This is because some of the radiation was absorbed by the Aluminium. It was show clearly that when we compare the counts for thickness of Aluminium(absorber) 129mg/cm2 and no absorber, the value of counts for no Aluminium is 3619 counts for 400 seconds while the value for 129mg/cm2 is 305 counts for 400 seconds. Therefore an Aluminium absorber can prevent many of the radiation for penetrating, but still have some of the radiation passing through the absorber due to its higher energy.

3. When the thickness of absorber is 516 mg/cm2, time taken for determine the radiation counts is 1000 seconds as taking long time can obtain more accuracy counting rate. 4. A typical beta-particle will leaves a nucleus with an energy equivalent to being accelerated through 1 million volts. This means that it will be travelling at close to the speed of light. It will have so much kinetic energy that the mass of this energy will be twice the rest mass of the electron. This energy called as endpoint energy. If the energy of particles is higher than the energy range in Table 2, therefore the particles can penetrate the Aluminium absorber at certain thickness. The thickness of material for shielding depends on the end-point beta energy of the isotope. The shielding thickness that is necessary to stop of a given end-point energy will decrease with increasing density of the shield. 5. Beta particles come in a continuous spectrum of energies, with the average energy being about 1/3 the maximum. The low energy betas are rapidly attenuated. 6. Beta rays are much lighter energy particles. The beta particle is an energetic electron given off by the nucleus of unstable isotopes to restore an energy balance. They leave the nucleus at a speed of 270,000 kilometers per second. They can be stopped, for instance, by an Aluminium sheet a few millimeters thick or by 3 meters of air. 5

7. particles capable of penetrating much deeper into living matter. Each encounter with a living cell, and there may be many before the beta energy is dissipated, is likely to dam age some of the chemical links between the living molecules of the cell or cause some permanent genetic change in the cell nucleus. If the damage occurs within the generative cells of the ovaries or testes, the damage may be passed to new generations. The normal background radiation level must contribute to the mutation of the gene pool. Most mutations are undesirable with a very few leading to "improvements". Any increase in the background level of radiation should be considered harmful. PRECAUTION STEPS There have some of the error occur when conducting experiment, in a result can affect our experiment result. 1. We should fully master the skill to control the functioning of Gieger Mueller because if not mastering well it can give the different counts value generally. 2. Make sure no bring other device that contribute radiation like handphone, laptop and computer, because this unsystematically radiation will affect our reading even had substrate the background counts. 3. Stand away from the radiation source and never handle source with any part of body. 4. Keep the source in its container when no using it to prevent radiation leakage out to surrounding. 5. Wear a mask and goggle so that the radiation does not penetrate our eyes. 6. Keep the exposure time as short as possible so that body not exposed to the radiation for a long time. 7. Wear a film badge to detect amount of radiation exposed. 6

8. Wear coat lined with lead to protect the body from the radiation.

TASK 1. Subtract the background counting rate (cps) form each of the measured counting rates and record the corrected values in the column 5 of the Table 1. Answer: HV Power Supply = 850V Background count for 1000seconds = 375 counts Background count for 400 seconds= 150 counts No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Thickness (mg/cm2) 0 129 161 206 258 328 419 516 590 645 849 Time (seconds) 400 400 400 400 400 400 400 1000 1000 1000 1000 Counts 3619 305 277 276 259 230 222 540 532 517 495 Counting Rate Minus Background (cps) (3619-150)/400 = 8.6725 (305-150)/400 = 0.3875 (277-150)/400 = 0.3175 (276-150)/400 = 0.3150 (259-150)/400 = 0.2725 (230-150)/400 = 0.2000 (222-150)/400 = 0.1800 (540-375)/1000 = 0.1650 (532-375)/1000 = 0.1570 (517-375)/1000 = 0.1420 (495-375)/1000 = 0.1200

2. Make a plot on semi-log graph paper of the corrected counting rate as function of absorber thickness. 3. From the graph above, obtain the maximum range of in Aluminium. Table 2 lists the approximate range of electron of various energies in Aluminium. Answer: To calculate the range of beta rays in aluminum for this particular energy, we refer to the definition of range, R , which is, according to Kaplan, the point 7

where the absorption curve deviates from the exponential form and meets the background. To a good approximation, and the absorption may be represented by the formula A(x) = A0ex

where Ao is the counting rate, or activity, without absorber, A(x) is the activity observed through a thickness x, and , is the absorption coefficient, x is the point where the curve meets the background. From the curve obtained, is equal to 0.0200, the relative activity of the background radiation is about 0.3043 and the value for A0 is about 0.724. Thus, by equating the relative activity to the exponential equation, we have 0.3043 = 0.724 e 0.0200 Solving the above equation for x, we obtain X
x

42.698 mg/cm 2

Thus the range for beta rays in aluminum is approximately 42.698 mg/cm 2 . Form table 2, we estimated the calculated value to 40.00 mg/cm2. Therefore, we obtain the beta particles energy is 0.200 MeV.

CONCLUSION From the experiment, we can conclude that the range of beta rays in aluminum for this particular energy is approximately 42.698 mg/cm 2 .The endpoint energy we obtained is about 0.200MeV.

REFERENCE http://sciencedemonstrations.fas.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do? keyword=k16940&pageid=icb.page102829&pageContentId=icb.pagecontent270778& state=maximize&view=view.do&viewParam_name=indepth.html 8

http://www.furryelephant.com/content/radioactivity/alpha-beta-gamma-radiation/ James M. Cork, Radioactivity and Nuclear Physics, D. Van Nostrand Company, Inc, New York.S R.D Evans, The Atomic Nucleus. New York : McGraw Hill, 1955