Page 27 - KFSHRC-RSO-Course
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iation Safety Officer Course Module 1.4 – Interaction of Radiation with Matter
OVERVIEW
The purpose of this module is to provide you with an understanding of the
ways in which ionizing radiation interacts with matter. You will learn about the
processes of excitation and ionization and learn how to classify the different
types of radiation into directly and indirectly ionizing radiation. Through a
number of practical activities, you will measure the range of alpha and beta
particles in air and learn about the interaction of these particles with matter.
The interaction of photons with absorbing material will be discussed in terms
of the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering and pair production. Finally,
you will be introduced to the concepts of neutron interactions including elastic
and inelastic scattering and neutron capture processes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
When you have completed this module you will be able to do the following:
1) Describe the processes of excitation and ionization.
2) Classify the different types of radiation into strongly, moderately and
weakly ionizing radiation.
3) Explain what is meant by directly and indirectly ionizing radiation.
4) Classify alpha, beta, neutron, gamma and x-ray radiations as directly or
indirectly ionizing.
5) Measure the approximate range of alpha particles in air and the range of
beta particles in materials.
6) Define bremsstrahlung radiation and describe its production.
7) State the relationship between the amount of bremsstrahlung radiation
produced and the maximum energy of the beta particle and the atomic
number of the absorber.
8) Describe the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering and pair production
for photon interactions with absorbing material.
9) Predict which photon interaction will predominate for specific photon
energies in specific absorbers.
10) Match neutron energies with the terms fast, intermediate and thermal.
11) Describe the processes of elastic scattering, inelastic scattering and
capture of neutrons.
12) Match the various radiations with their most likely interaction methods.
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre – Biomedical Physics Department Page 1
OVERVIEW
The purpose of this module is to provide you with an understanding of the
ways in which ionizing radiation interacts with matter. You will learn about the
processes of excitation and ionization and learn how to classify the different
types of radiation into directly and indirectly ionizing radiation. Through a
number of practical activities, you will measure the range of alpha and beta
particles in air and learn about the interaction of these particles with matter.
The interaction of photons with absorbing material will be discussed in terms
of the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering and pair production. Finally,
you will be introduced to the concepts of neutron interactions including elastic
and inelastic scattering and neutron capture processes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
When you have completed this module you will be able to do the following:
1) Describe the processes of excitation and ionization.
2) Classify the different types of radiation into strongly, moderately and
weakly ionizing radiation.
3) Explain what is meant by directly and indirectly ionizing radiation.
4) Classify alpha, beta, neutron, gamma and x-ray radiations as directly or
indirectly ionizing.
5) Measure the approximate range of alpha particles in air and the range of
beta particles in materials.
6) Define bremsstrahlung radiation and describe its production.
7) State the relationship between the amount of bremsstrahlung radiation
produced and the maximum energy of the beta particle and the atomic
number of the absorber.
8) Describe the photoelectric effect, Compton scattering and pair production
for photon interactions with absorbing material.
9) Predict which photon interaction will predominate for specific photon
energies in specific absorbers.
10) Match neutron energies with the terms fast, intermediate and thermal.
11) Describe the processes of elastic scattering, inelastic scattering and
capture of neutrons.
12) Match the various radiations with their most likely interaction methods.
King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre – Biomedical Physics Department Page 1
