NEHA Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Practice Exam

Question: 1 / 400

What can effectively block alpha particles?

A sheet of paper

Alpha particles, which are composed of two protons and two neutrons, have a relatively low mass and a positive charge. Due to their substantial mass and charge, they have low penetration ability and can be stopped by materials as light and thin as a sheet of paper.

The key factor is that alpha particles interact more strongly with matter due to their charge, leading to significant energy loss within just a few micrometers of material. Therefore, a sheet of paper is sufficient to obstruct their path completely, making it the correct answer in this context.

Other materials like aluminum foil, wood, and glass can also block alpha particles but are unnecessarily thicker and denser than what is required for effective shielding against them. Consequently, while they do function in blocking the particles, a basic sheet of paper is the simplest and most effective choice for this purpose.

Get further explanation with Examzify DeepDiveBeta

Aluminum foil

Wood

Glass

Next Question

Report this question

Download NEHA Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Practice Exam PDF Study Guide
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy