Texas Industrial Radiography Gamma Practice Test

The reduction of radiation intensity as it passes through any material is called:

1. Collimation

2. Attenuation

3. Decay

4. Ionization

The correct answer is: Attenuation

The term that refers to the reduction of radiation intensity as it passes through any material is attenuation. This process involves the absorption and scattering of radiation, which results in a decrease in its intensity. Different materials can attenuate radiation to varying degrees, depending on their composition and density. For example, lead is highly effective at attenuating gamma rays due to its high atomic number and density, making it a common choice for radiation shielding. Collimation pertains to the act of narrowing a beam of particles or waves, which doesn't directly relate to the overall reduction of intensity due to material interaction. Decay refers to the process in which radioactive materials lose their radioactivity over time, while ionization involves the removal of electrons from atoms, creating charged particles. These terms describe different phenomena that do not specifically address the concept of intensity reduction through materials.