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Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TanisFrey" data-source="post: 5341504" data-attributes="member: 26948">Any EM radiation passing through water is partly absorbed and converted into heat.  Many factors need to be considered in talking about water as a radiation shield.  How much water?  What wavelength EM radiation are we talking about?Radio (typical AM and FM frequencies) is not affected much water in the air but Microwaves are.  Microwave transmissions are limited to about 20 - 25 miles on earth surface due to the cumulative effect of water vapor in the air.  If someone try to increase frequency (like x-rays or gamma rays) beyond this the more limited the range will be due to water vapor.  the more the frequencies increase the greater the absorption will be.A lead shield an inch thick will do the job of several feet of water.  Most of a space ship radiation shield will be on or near the skin of the ship.Yes, water is not as efficient shield as something heaver but we humans use gallons and gallons for everyday use.A hydroponics lab in space will need hundreds to thousands of gallons every day depending on size.  It is usually good logic to locate you water tank as close to the item that will the most of it so you don't have to wast energy pumping it halfway across the the ship.Therefore the water in Hydroponics gives you the EXTRA shielding you need to survive the x-ray pulse.As a side note the principles of a microwave oven were discovered by accident by a radar technician.  He moved in front of the transmitter to adjust it with a chocolate bar in his pocket, it melted.  Eventually someone used this knowledge to create the radarrange, an early type of microwave oven.</blockquote>

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