Why is the mass absorption coefficient used rather than the linear absorption?

[Mattofix]

Homework Statement

Why is the mass absorption coefficient used rather than the linear absorption coefficient?

Homework Equations

mac=lac/density

The Attempt at a Solution

is it because mac is independent of physical from?

 

[nasu]

You are right. The mass coefficient depends only on the type of atom in the sample.
You can calculate the coefficient for mixture or compounds if you know the mass coeff of the component atoms.
You are thinking about the x-ray coefficients, right?