Well, IIRC, the tenth-thickness of water is approximately 24 inches. Versus alpha, beta and neutron radiation it is nothing short of superty-duperty. However, it doesn't do squat versus gamma radiation. Heck, if we are just worried about A, B, and n radiation, the first two will be easily stopped by the skin of any spacecraft that was thicker than a piece of paper, and it would probably be better to line the ship with borated polycarbonate rather than use water.
Am I right in assuming that they are more worried about gamma radiation than the others? (not a lot you can do about those pesky neutrinos, I guess:) ) If so, leaded acylic could probably be used, or some other leaded composite, but, hey, its lead, and that means weight. You could go with other heavy metals such as Tungsten. That would get you a weight savings, but at the expense of cost.
IIRC, it would take 8 inches of water to do the job of 1/2 inch of lead (both give approx 1MeV attenuation)(or for a gamma tenth thickness: lead 2 inches, water 48 inches.)
Can any of you math weenies crunchsome numbers and figure out how much lead that would be? That would be cool!
Ok, maybe I am just really, really a geek, but when I was reading this post, the usuall box was showing beneath it describing it. I nearly fell off my chair laughing when I realized that we were talking about radiation shielding, and the box mentioned "Moderation". C'mon, physics geeks, back me up here.:)
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Well, IIRC, the tenth-thickness of water is approximately 24 inches. Versus alpha, beta and neutron radiation it is nothing short of superty-duperty. However, it doesn't do squat versus gamma radiation. Heck, if we are just worried about A, B, and n radiation, the first two will be easily stopped by the skin of any spacecraft that was thicker than a piece of paper, and it would probably be better to line the ship with borated polycarbonate rather than use water. Am I right in assuming that they are more worried about gamma radiation than the others? (not a lot you can do about those pesky neutrinos, I guess :) ) If so, leaded acylic could probably be used, or some other leaded composite, but, hey, its lead, and that means weight. You could go with other heavy metals such as Tungsten. That would get you a weight savings, but at the expense of cost.
IIRC, it would take 8 inches of water to do the job of 1/2 inch of lead (both give approx 1MeV attenuation)(or for a gamma tenth thickness: lead 2 inches, water 48 inches.)
Can any of you math weenies crunchsome numbers and figure out how much lead that would be? That would be cool!
Ok, maybe I am just really, really a geek, but when I was reading this post, the usuall box was showing beneath it describing it. I nearly fell off my chair laughing when I realized that we were talking about radiation shielding, and the box mentioned "Moderation". C'mon, physics geeks, back me up here. :)
he may or may not have gotten it, you mean. :)
Q:What sound does a dying centimeter make? A: Erg!