this post was submitted on 21 Feb 2024
540 points (100.0% liked)

196

17237 readers
952 users here now

Be sure to follow the rule before you head out.


Rule: You must post before you leave.



Other rules

Behavior rules:

Posting rules:

NSFW: NSFW content is permitted but it must be tagged and have content warnings. Anything that doesn't adhere to this will be removed. Content warnings should be added like: [penis], [explicit description of sex]. Non-sexualized breasts of any gender are not considered inappropriate and therefore do not need to be blurred/tagged.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us on our matrix channel or email.

Other 196's:

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Neato@ttrpg.network 33 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Because neutrons are uncharged, they are more penetrating than alpha radiation or beta radiation. In some cases they are more penetrating than gamma radiation, which is impeded in materials of high atomic number.

I did not know that neutrons could penetrate farther than gamma rays by their virtue of being neutral. Also never heard gamma rays be called y-rays. Wonder what the z-rays will be if we ever name any.

[–] cafeinux@infosec.pub 61 points 1 year ago (1 children)

γ is the Greek letter gamma. Those are γ-rays, not y-rays.

[–] Pilgrim@beehaw.org 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

So why are X-rays the only ones that are just X if the rest are Greek

[–] Malgas@beehaw.org 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In an 1895 paper, Röntgen used "X" to label an unknown type of radiation. And the name stuck, despite his later objections. (Some languages do call them Röntgen rays.)

[–] pleb_maximus@feddit.de 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

German for example does this.

[–] rumschlumpel@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Ix-Strahlung certainly doesn't roll off the tongue.

[–] Proxima_Centauri11@lemmy.world 35 points 1 year ago

The "y" you're seeing on the table is actually γ, or lower-case gamma!

[–] CptEnder@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

Did not know about the neutrons either as well as gamma rays having the same penetration as x-rays. Was always taught gamma radiation is insta toast no matter what kind of protection.