It depends heavily on the fuel used.
See, some decay chains have gamma emitters in the line. Those are not good to have around people without several meters of lead, concrete, or water. All things that are a bit too heavy for a car.
Ahh, so unless we have a few meters of protection, we will die.
That’s a good reason.
Well, you’ll likely not die from a source the size of a poppy seed, but you’ll likely have a bad time.
Localized radiation burns on whatever body part is closest to the pellet.
If, on the other hand, you choose your fuel well, a thin sheet of metal is more than enough protection. Beta radiation can be blocked by a sheet of paper, and an alpha emitter is only dangerous if you swallow or breathe it.
Localized radiation burns on whatever body part is closest to the pellet.
My prostate says “Bring it on!”
Localized radiation burns on whatever body part is closest to the pellet.
My prostate says “Bring it on!”
This - wanted to add that it’s generally not a good idea to have radioactive elements not under under lock and key as they have a nasty habit of ending up in scrap yards and the like. Most nuclear accidents are from radiotherapy and x-ray machine sources not getting disposed of correctly and getting picked up by enterprising scrappers due to the high lead content of their housing.
