Why some radiation passes through matter while others are blocked
In short: From the discovery of radioactivity in 1896 to the physics of atomic decay, this video explains how different types of radiation interact with the world around us. It explores why some particles are easily stopped while others can penetrate deeply.
The term 'radioactive' was first coined by Marie Curie to describe a phenomenon initially discovered by Henri Becquerel in 1896. This process occurs when unstable atomic nuclei decay in an attempt to reach a state of stability, releasing radiation in the process.
Ernest Rutherford further investigated these emissions, identifying three distinct types of radiation: alpha, beta, and gamma. Two of these types are notable for being deflected by electric or magnetic fields. The video examines the specific penetrating properties of each, illustrating how they behave when encountering different types of matter.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Penetrating Properties of Radiation | Radioactivity | Physics | FuseSchool
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