Half-value layers to centimeters of concrete
Type a value in HVL to get it in cm concrete instantly.
14.1cm concrete
That's about the same as a shielded wall. About 12.5% of the radiation still gets through.
What it means
How much gets stopped?
Thicknesses are for a 1 MeV gamma beam. Half-value layers change with photon energy, so a shield that works for one isotope may not for another.
The math
How to convert HVL to cm concrete
To convert half-value layers to centimeters of concrete, multiply by 4.7.
Example: 3 HVL × 4.7 = 14.1 cm concrete.
In the other direction, 1 cm concrete = 0.212766 HVL.
Every unit
Your shielding in every unit
Tables
HVL to cm concrete conversion table
| HVL | cm concrete |
|---|---|
| 0.5 HVL | 2.35 cm concrete |
| 1 HVL | 4.7 cm concrete |
| 2 HVL | 9.4 cm concrete |
| 3 HVL | 14.1 cm concrete |
| 4 HVL | 18.8 cm concrete |
| 5 HVL | 23.5 cm concrete |
| 7 HVL | 32.9 cm concrete |
| 10 HVL | 47 cm concrete |
| 13 HVL | 61.1 cm concrete |
| 20 HVL | 94 cm concrete |
cm concrete to HVL conversion table
| cm concrete | HVL |
|---|---|
| 0.5 cm concrete | 0.106383 HVL |
| 1 cm concrete | 0.212766 HVL |
| 2 cm concrete | 0.425532 HVL |
| 3 cm concrete | 0.638298 HVL |
| 4 cm concrete | 0.851064 HVL |
| 5 cm concrete | 1.06383 HVL |
| 7 cm concrete | 1.48936 HVL |
| 10 cm concrete | 2.12766 HVL |
| 13 cm concrete | 2.76596 HVL |
| 20 cm concrete | 4.25532 HVL |
Quick answers
Quick answers
- How many cm concrete is 1 HVL?
- 1 HVL is 4.7 cm concrete.
- How many cm concrete is 10 HVL?
- 10 HVL is 47 cm concrete.
- How many cm concrete is 3 HVL?
- 3 HVL is 14.1 cm concrete.
The units
About these units
Half-value layers (HVL)
How many halvings the beam has been through.
Centimeters of concrete (cm concrete)
The cheap shielding, and why bunkers are thick.
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