Detecting Alpha, Beta and Gamma Radiation

The Earth’s magnetosphere, a huge magnetic bubble, protects us from significant radiation exposure and deflects the vast majority of these particles. Since the International Space Station is in low-earth orbit, within the magnetosphere, the astronauts also receive a large measure of protection from radiation. In this lab students measure the levels of radiation in their environment using a Geiger counter. Then, they compare personal instances of radiation exposure like flying on a plane or getting an x-ray to the astronauts’ levels of exposure. This helps them develop an understanding of the scale and extent of radiation in the environment. Finally, they run trials to test the effectiveness of different materials to block these rays.
Materials developed in partnership with Microsoft EDU and the NASA STEM on Station team.