High-energy gamma rays exhibit a finite range in water due to their interactions with matter, despite being massless and chargeless. The intensity of gamma rays decays exponentially, leading to a non-zero probability of photon presence over a fixed range. Key interaction mechanisms include photoelectric absorption, Compton scattering, and pair production, which dominate at different energy levels. In a vacuum, gamma rays have an effectively infinite range, but their lifetime and range are limited in a medium like water.
PREREQUISITESPhysicists, radiation safety professionals, and students studying nuclear physics or radiation interactions will benefit from this discussion.