Question

24. Suppose you are given two radioactive sources. you are told one source emits a ray of alpha particles and the other source emits a ray of beta particles. You have paper, aluminum foil, thin pieces of wood, and a Geiger counter. Design an experiment to determine which source is the alpha-emitter and which is the beta-emitter. Be sure to list your IV, DV, treatments, and constants.

Answer 1

Since penetration power of alpha is very weak, thus by keeping paper between source and Geiger counter it can be known whether source is alpha-emitter or not. If Geiger counter counts less number than without paper source is alpha emitter.

Beta particles are electrons and have intermediate penetration power. Keeping Aluminum sheet between source and Geiger counter and counts decreases significantly, this means source is beta emitting source.