Explore attenuation in this interactive simulation!

Four different radioactive sources are mounted on a turntable. A Geiger counter measures the number of radioactive particles that hits it in a period of time.

Turntables

Click the grey turntables to change the radioactive sources (lower) and blocking material (upper). [Note: You may need to use MS Excel to record data for your graphs to answer the questions on Turntables Explore]

• Do some materials block radiation better than others? Which is the best and which is the worst?
• Are some types of radiation more easily blocked? What type of radiation is most easily attenuated, which is least?
• What type of radiation does the unknown source produce?

Inverse-square

Click the ruler to change the Geiger counter position. [Note: You may need to use MS Excel to record data for your graphs to answer the questions on Inverse Square Law Explore]

• What happens as the Geiger counter moves away from the radioactive source?