The use of 3 half value layers of shielding will reduce the radiation intensity by what factor?

To determine how much radiation intensity is reduced by using half-value layers (HVL), it is important to understand that each half-value layer cuts the radiation intensity in half. Thus, after one half-value layer, the intensity is reduced to one-half of its original level. With each additional half-value layer, the intensity continues to be halved.

If we consider the initial intensity as being equal to 1, the effects of the half-value layers would be quantified as follows:

1. After the first half-value layer, the intensity would be 1/2.

2. After the second half-value layer, the intensity would be (1/2) * (1/2) = 1/4.

3. After the third half-value layer, the intensity would be (1/4) * (1/2) = 1/8.

Thus, after three half-value layers, the radiation intensity is reduced to 1/8 of its original intensity. To express this as a factor, we can recognize that a reduction to 1/8 means that the intensity has been reduced by a factor of 8. This is why using three half-value layers results in a reduction of radiation intensity by a factor of 8.