Explain Why charged particles do not penetrate matter deeply

The interact with matter (electrons, atom nucleus, etc) and give up their kinetic energy in doing so.

Charged particles, such as protons or electrons, do not penetrate matter deeply due to their interaction with the atoms in the material. This interaction occurs primarily through electromagnetism.

When a charged particle approaches matter, it exerts a force on the charged particles (electrons and protons) in the atoms of the material it encounters. This force is known as the electromagnetic force, which is responsible for the attraction and repulsion between charged objects.

As the charged particle gets closer to the atoms, the electromagnetic force becomes stronger. This force causes the charged particle to deviate from its original path, effectively changing its trajectory. The greater the charge and energy of the particle, the stronger the force it exerts on the atoms, resulting in a larger deviation.

Furthermore, the charged particle may transfer energy to the electrons in the atoms, resulting in their excitation or ionization. Excitation occurs when an electron absorbs energy and moves to a higher energy level within an atom, while ionization happens when an electron is completely removed from the atom, leaving behind a positively charged ion. These interactions with the electrons cause the charged particle to lose energy and slow down.

As a result of these interactions and energy losses, charged particles tend to undergo numerous deflections and lose significant amounts of energy as they pass through matter. This ultimately limits their penetration depth. Higher-energy charged particles are more likely to penetrate deeper into matter than lower-energy particles, but even they have a limited range depending on the material.

In summary, charged particles do not penetrate matter deeply due to the electromagnetic interactions with the charged particles in the atoms of the material, resulting in deflection, energy loss, and limited penetration depth.