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Cs-137 produces beta-minus particles. What types of interaction are likely to occur if a Cs-137 source is shielded in glass? In lead?

Cs-137 produces beta-minus particles. What types of interaction are likely to occur if a Cs-137 source is shielded in glass? In lead?

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**Text for Educational Website:** **Cs-137 and Beta-Minus Particle Interactions** **Overview:** Cs-137, or Cesium-137, is a radioactive isotope that emits beta-minus particles during its decay process. Understanding the interactions that occur when a Cs-137 source is shielded with different materials, such as glass or lead, is crucial for applications in radiation safety and nuclear science. **Beta-Minus Particles:** Beta-minus particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons. When shielding is considered, various materials interact with these particles in distinct ways due to their different densities and atomic properties. **Interactions with Glass:** - **Glass Shielding:** Glass is composed of relatively light elements, which can partly absorb beta particles through ionization and excitation processes. Some beta particles may pass through due to the lower density of glass, compared to heavier shielding materials. - **Resulting Interactions:** Primarily involves scattering and absorption, reducing the energy and number of beta particles that pass through. **Interactions with Lead:** - **Lead Shielding:** Lead is a dense material with a high atomic number, making it very effective at shielding beta-minus radiation. - **Resulting Interactions:** Absorption is more complete due to the high electron density, leading to greater attenuation of the beta particles. Understanding these interactions helps in designing effective radiation shielding strategies for safe handling of radioactive materials like Cs-137.
Transcribed Image Text:**Text for Educational Website:** **Cs-137 and Beta-Minus Particle Interactions** **Overview:** Cs-137, or Cesium-137, is a radioactive isotope that emits beta-minus particles during its decay process. Understanding the interactions that occur when a Cs-137 source is shielded with different materials, such as glass or lead, is crucial for applications in radiation safety and nuclear science. **Beta-Minus Particles:** Beta-minus particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons. When shielding is considered, various materials interact with these particles in distinct ways due to their different densities and atomic properties. **Interactions with Glass:** - **Glass Shielding:** Glass is composed of relatively light elements, which can partly absorb beta particles through ionization and excitation processes. Some beta particles may pass through due to the lower density of glass, compared to heavier shielding materials. - **Resulting Interactions:** Primarily involves scattering and absorption, reducing the energy and number of beta particles that pass through. **Interactions with Lead:** - **Lead Shielding:** Lead is a dense material with a high atomic number, making it very effective at shielding beta-minus radiation. - **Resulting Interactions:** Absorption is more complete due to the high electron density, leading to greater attenuation of the beta particles. Understanding these interactions helps in designing effective radiation shielding strategies for safe handling of radioactive materials like Cs-137.
Expert Solution
Step 1

Given Cs-137 (Cesium 137) a radioactive isotope of cesium produces beta-minus particles.

Beta particles consist of electrons hence their mass is much lesser compared to the alpha particles therefore, for the same value of the kinetic energy they exhibit a greater value of velocity than the alpha particles.

 

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