why can gamma rays pass through or penertrate solids?
Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation, i.e. photons. They are short wavelength, which means that they have high energy (e = h * nu). Visible light is electromagnetic radiation, but of longer wavelength and lower energy. [ As you know, visible light penetrates solids and is absorbed by them. Gamma rays also penetrate solids and are absorbed by them. However, since they have more energy than visible light, they penetrate further.
Here is what Wikipedia says about penetrating gamma rays:
Shielding for ? rays requires large amounts of mass. The material used for shielding takes into account
that gamma rays are better absorbed by materials with high atomic number and high density. Also, the higher the energy of the gamma rays, the thicker the shielding required. Materials for shielding gamma rays are typically illustrated by the thickness required to reduce the intensity of the gamma rays by one half (the half value layer or HVL). For example, gamma rays that require 1 cm (0.4 inches) of lead to reduce their intensity by 50% will also have their intensity reduced in half by 6 cm (2½ inches) of concrete or 9 cm (3½ inches) of packed dirt.
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selymi|Points 8772|
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Asked 8/23/2012 11:30:56 AM
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