Question

Suppose the range for 5.0 MeV α ray is known to be 2.0 mm in a certain material. Does this mean that every 5.0 MeV α ray that strikes this material travels 2.0 mm, or does the range have an average value with some statistical fluctuations in the distances traveled? Explain.

a) Yes, every α ray travels exactly 2.0 mm.

b) No, the range has an average value with statistical fluctuations.

c) The range is unpredictable; it varies widely.

d) The range is determined by the energy, not the material.

Answer 1

The range for a 5.0 MeV α ray in a certain material does not mean that every α ray that strikes the material travels exactly 2.0 mm. The range has an average value with statistical fluctuations in the distances traveled.

Step-by-step explanation:

The range for a 5.0 MeV α ray in a certain material being 2.0 mm does not mean that every α ray that strikes the material travels exactly 2.0 mm. The range actually has an average value with some statistical fluctuations in the distances traveled.

When a 5.0 MeV α ray strikes the material, it can interact with the atoms in the material and transfer some of its energy, causing it to lose its velocity. Due to the random nature of atomic interactions, the distance traveled by the α ray can vary from one interaction to another, resulting in statistical fluctuations in the range.