Various experiments demonstrating the rectilinear propagation of uranium, radium, and polonium rays have been made by M. Becquerel.
It is interesting to know the distance that rays can travel in air. We have found that radium emits rays which can be detected in the air at a distance of several metres from the source. In certain of our electrical determinations, the action of the source upon the air of the condenser made itself felt at a distance of between 2 and 3 metres. We have also obtained fluorescent effects and radiographic impressions at similar distances. The experiments are not easily carried out, except with very intense radio-active sources, because, independently of the absorption by the air, the action upon a given receiver varies inversely as the square of the distance from a source of small dimensions. This radiation, which travels a long distance in the case of radium, comprises rays of the cathode kind and rays which are undeflected; however, the deflected rays predominate, according to the results of the experiments already mentioned. The greater part of the radiation (α-rays) is, on the contrary, limited in air to a distance of about 7 c.m. from the source.
I made several experiments with radium enclosed in a little glass vessel. The rays emerging from the vessel, after traversing a certain space of air, were received in a condenser, which served to measure their ionising capacity by the usual electrical method. The distance, , from the source to the condenser was varied, and the current of saturation, , obtained in the condenser was measured. The following are the results of one of the series of determinations:—
| , c.m. | | . | | ( |
| 10 | 127 | 13 | ||
| 20 | 38 | 15 | ||
| 30 | 17·4 | 16 | ||
| 40 | 10·5 | 17 | ||
| 50 | 6·9 | 17 | ||
| 60 | 4·7 | 17 | ||
| 70 | 3·8 | 19 | ||
| 100 | 1·65 | 17 |
After a certain distance, the intensity of radiation varies inversely as the square of the distance from the condenser.
The radiation of polonium is only propagated in air to a distance of a few centimetres (4 to 6 c.m.) from the source of radiation.
