Page:Radio-activity.djvu/216

 depends on the thickness of the radio-active layer under examination. The following comparative values of the current due to the [Greek: alpha] and β rays were obtained for very thin layers of active matter. A weight of 1/10 gramme of fine powder, consisting of uranium oxide, thorium oxide, or radium chloride of activity 2000, was spread as uniformly as possible over an area of 80 sq. cms. The saturation current was observed between parallel plates 5·7 cms. apart. This distance was sufficient to absorb most of the [Greek: alpha] rays from the active substances. A layer of aluminium ·009 cm. thick absorbed all the [Greek: alpha] rays.

++-+++ ++-+++ ++-+++
 * | Current due to   |  Current due to  |     Ratio of currents      |
 * |[Greek: alpha] rays|[Greek: beta] rays|[Greek: beta]/[Greek: alpha]|
 * Uranium |         1        |         1        |           ·0074            |
 * Thorium |         1        |       ·27        |           ·0020            |
 * Radium |       2000        |      1350        |           ·0033            |

In the above table the saturation current due to the [Greek: alpha] and β rays of uranium is, in each case, taken as unity. The third column gives the ratio of the currents observed for equal weights of substance. The results are only approximate in character, for the ionization due to a given weight of substance depends on its fineness of division. In all cases, the current due to the β rays is small compared with that due to the [Greek: alpha] rays, being greatest for uranium and least for thorium. As the thickness of layer increases, the ratio of currents [Greek: beta]/[Greek: alpha] steadily increases to a constant value.

114. Comparison of the energy radiated by the [Greek: alpha] and [Greek: beta] rays. It has not yet been found possible to measure directly the energy of the [Greek: alpha] and β rays. A comparison of the energy radiated in the two forms of rays can, however, be made indirectly by two distinct methods.

If it be assumed that the same amount of energy is required to produce an ion by either the [Greek: alpha] or the [Greek: beta] ray, and that the same proportion of the total energy is used up in producing ions, an approximate estimate can be made of the ratio of the energy