Radiation. Help, I need help

[Billy121]

Hello, I need some help from clever people. Regarding alpha, beta and gamma rays. If I was to shoot any of these at say a card of plastic is it possible to detect on the plastic that it had been shot with any of these? Using specialised camera perhaps? Would the rays leave a trace in any form? 

 

If not is it possible to shoot any type of rays or particles that would leave a trace on the surface of plastic at all, that Co ld be detected by a camera set up? 

 

 

Many thanks for all your wonderful help on this my friends. 

[swansont]

It’s possible, but might require a large number of interactions to detect anything. 
 

High-energy electrons in a discharge leave tracks in plastic. They are called Lichtenberg figures.

[studiot]

You might like to consider devising an experiment based on the response to streams of alpha, beta and gamma rays to electric/magnetic fields.

http://www.passmyexams.co.uk/GCSE/physics/properties-of-radiation-magnetic-field.html

[John Cuthber]

1 hour ago, Billy121 said:

If I was to shoot any of these at say a card of plastic is it possible to detect on the plastic that it had been shot with any of these? Using specialised camera perhaps? Would the rays leave a trace in any form? 

 

Sort of...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solid-state_nuclear_track_detector

[MigL]

If plastics are your target of choice, most EMR, from visible light ,through x-rays, to gamma radiation will degrade plastics in the following manner...

Discolor or yellowing effect
Change in mechanical properties (varies by material)
Crosslinking – increased tensile strength, decreased elongation
Chain scission – reduced tensile strength and elongation

from    https://omnexus.specialchem.com/polymer-properties/properties/gamma-radiation-resistance

In addition to the tracks made by beta radiation ( mentioned by Swansont ), this should give you the means to discern between the three types of radiation.

[BabcockHall]

You might also ask which would pass through the plastic and which would not.