Peer reviewed
Direct linkERIC Number: EJ818989
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Sep
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0143-0807
EISSN: N/A
A Novel Experiment to Investigate the Attenuation of Alpha Particles in Air
Andrews, D. G. H.
European Journal of Physics, v29 n5 p1077-1083 Sep 2008
A simple student experiment investigating dependence on air pressure of the attenuation of alpha particles in air is described. An equation giving the pressure needed to absorb all alpha particles of a given energy is derived from the Bethe-Bloch formula. Results are presented for the attenuation of alpha particles from americium 241 and radium 226. The experimental results are in close agreement with the theoretical predictions. (Contains 4 figures.)
Descriptors: Science Experiments, Equations (Mathematics), Science Instruction, Molecular Structure, Physics, Secondary School Science, College Science, Climate
Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://www.iop.org/EJ/journal/EJP
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Secondary Education
Audience: Students; Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
