Why are beta particles less penetrating than x-rays?

[ZedCar]

Homework Statement

Why are beta particles less penetrating than x-rays?

 

[Delphi51]

What will happen when betas approach the cloud of electrons around the atoms of a material?

 

[ZedCar]

What will happen when betas approach the cloud of electrons around the atoms of a material?

The β particle has a charge. It will be attracted to any molecules or atoms with an opposite charge, causing it to smash into them.

The photons of the x-ray have no charge. They can move further through empty space without hitting anything.

 

[Delphi51]

It will be attracted to any molecules or atoms with an opposite charge

Approaching electrons only see the outer charges of molecules and atoms. If you consider the sign of the charges involved, you will see that there is no attraction. If they are going fast enough there will be some crashing, though.

The lack of charge does enable the x-rays to make it through materials, too. It would be worth looking up the range of photon energies that atoms and molecules can absorb.

 

[asteriatic]

Beta particles are less penetrating than x-rays because they have a lower energy and a higher mass compared to x-rays. This means that beta particles have a shorter range and are more easily absorbed by materials such as air, paper, and skin. In contrast, x-rays have a higher energy and lower mass, allowing them to travel further and penetrate through materials more easily. Additionally, beta particles have a higher charge, which causes them to interact more strongly with the atoms in the material they are traveling through, further reducing their penetration ability. Therefore, beta particles are less penetrating than x-rays due to their lower energy, higher mass, and stronger interaction with matter.