Range of electrons in water and aluminium Fig 4.2 (1)

Range of electrons in water and aluminium Fig 4.2 (1)
Range of electrons in water and aluminium Fig 4.2 (1)

Discussion

Presented for academic interest more than anything. Note that the range is given in the units of mg/cm2. This is the mass of material per unit square area that is presented to the electrons. In order to turn the range into a linear value you need to divide by the density of the material.

For example, take a 1 MeV electron and examine its range through aluminium. We see from the above curve that the range is 450 mg/cm2. The density of aluminium is 2700 mg/cm3. Therefore, the linear range of the electron in this example will be about 1.67 mm. This is similar to that reported in other literature.

There are children playing in the street who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago.

– J. Robert Oppenheimer -