Which material can block beta particles?

The correct answer is that glass can effectively block beta particles. Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive decay. They can penetrate materials to a limited degree but are not highly penetrating compared to other forms of radiation, such as gamma rays.

Glass serves as a suitable barrier because its density and atomic structure can absorb or scatter the energy of beta particles effectively. When a beta particle interacts with the glass, much of its energy is lost, preventing it from passing through.

While skin and paper can also provide some level of protection against beta particles, they are less effective than glass. Skin can absorb and stop low-energy beta particles, but higher-energy beta particles may penetrate deeper. Paper can block very low-energy beta particles but may not stop more energetic ones as effectively as glass does. Steel is too dense and heavy for beta particles to penetrate, but its effectiveness is more relevant for higher-energy radiation, such as gamma rays.

Understanding the properties of different materials in relation to radiation is crucial for safety in environments where radiation is present, and recognizing that glass is capable of effectively stopping beta particles is an important aspect of radiation protection knowledge.