Name:  ___________________________
		Worksheet # 5 Quarter 4 Packet 2
	Distinguishing Between an Alpha Emitter, Beta Emitter and a Gamma Emitter Alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays have different penetrating power.  A stream of alpha particles can be stopped by a single sheet of paper.  Beta particles will  pass through paper but can be stopped by a thin sheet of aluminum.  It takes several centimeters of lead to stop gamma rays. Graph the data below and determine the radioactive emission for each sample. Sample #1                                                           Sample #2 # of sheets       Geiger Counter                         # of sheets       Geiger Counter                      Readings Per Minute                                         Readings Per Minute                            Paper    Aluminum    Lead                                Paper    Aluminum    Lead   0                      300         300           300         0                       300         300           300   1                      300         275           250         1                       280         240           220   2                      300         265           210         2                       270         200           150   3                      300         255           170         3                       255         150             50   4                      300         245           140         4                       240         105             50   5                      300         235           100         5                       225          55              10   6                      295         225             70         6                       205          15               6   7                      285         200             50         7                       160           7                7   8                      285         175             30         8                       150           8                6   9                      275         150             15         9                       125           6                7   10                    275         125             10         10                     100           7                7 Sample #3 # of sheets        Geiger Counter                       Readings Per Minute                           Paper      Aluminum      Lead 0                         300         300               300 1                         300         300               300  2                         300         300               300   3                         300         300               280 4                         300         300               260 5                         300         300               240 6                         300         300               210 7                         300         300               200 8                         300         300               190 9                         300         300               180 10                       300         300               160                                      1.   Why doesn't the Geiger Counter ever read zero counts per minute? ------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2.   Which sample, #1, #2 or #3 is the gamma emitter?  ------- Why?----------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.   Which sample, #1, #2or #3 is the alpha emitter?-------  Why? -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4.  Which sample, #1, #2 or #3 is the beta emitter? -------   Why?--------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5   Write a nuclear reaction for each sample.