What type of radiation can survey meters typically detect?

Survey meters are designed to detect various types of ionizing radiation, which includes gamma, beta, and alpha radiation. Each of these radiation types has distinct characteristics:

• Gamma radiation is highly penetrating and can travel through most materials, making it vital for survey meters to detect in order to gauge radiation levels in various environments, particularly in nuclear applications.

• Beta radiation consists of high-energy, high-speed electrons or positrons emitted by certain types of radioactive decay. Its detection is important as beta particles can pose a significant health risk, especially when they interact with biological tissue.

• Alpha radiation, while less penetrating and typically stopped by the outer layer of human skin, can be hazardous if ingested or inhaled. Survey meters that can detect alpha radiation are essential for assessing contamination risks.

By detecting all three types of radiation, survey meters provide crucial information for safety monitoring and radiation protection. The other options do not correctly represent the capabilities of survey meters; for instance, some options are overly restrictive or incorrect about the type of radiation they can detect.