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The distance covered when 22 MeV gamma rays travel through air

Physics Asked by Mohamed Obeidallah on February 11, 2021

Both alpha and beta radiations can only travel short distances through air as they’re not as penetrating as gamma radiations. How long gamma radiations with 22 MeV energy can travel in air? Is it meters, kilometers, miles, etc.

Is there a difference between a lower energy gamma ray (for example a 2 MeV gamma ray) and a higher energy gamma ray (22 MeV gamma ray) when it comes to the maximum distance covered in air?

One Answer

In a beam of 22 MeV gamma rays passing through dry air at sea level, half will be absorbed in about 350 meters. Photons at lower energies are absorbed in a shorter distance (for 2 MeV, it's about 130 meters).


Calculation details: NIST gives the mass attenuation coefficient $mu/rho$ for 20 MeV photons as $1.705 times 10^{-2} mathrm{ {cm}^2/g}$ (it's a little bit lower at higher energies). The density of air at sea level, $rho$, is about 1.225 kg/m$^3$. Therefore, for 20 MeV photons, half will be absorbed in a distance

$$frac{ln 2}{(1.705 mathrm{ {cm}^2/g})(1.225 mathrm{ {kg}/m^3})} approx 330 mathrm{ m}$$

and the distance is a little higher at 22 MeV.

Answered by Thorondor on February 11, 2021

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