Stopping Radiation

What can stop Raidiation happening?
- John (age 13)
Liverpool, England

Radiation is a catch-all term involving emission of radio waves, x-rays, alpha, beta and gamma rays, and so on.  Each type of radiation has different penetrating powers.  For example a thin sheet of paper will stop most alpha particles whereas it takes a not so thin sheet of lead in order to stop some gamma radiation.  Thermal radiation is that type emitted by hot bodies, like a hot stove or the sun.  You can never stop the emission process itself, it\'s a fact of life.
Wikipedia has a very nice article on radiation.   Take a look at:


LeeH

(published on 05/16/2013)