- "In physics, radiation is the emission or transmission of energy in the form of waves or particles through space or through a material medium."
The amount of radiation received by an object or organism from a radioactive source.
Types of radiation: Different types of radiation include alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron radiation. Alpha radiation consists of helium nuclei, beta radiation consists of electrons, gamma radiation consists of photons, and neutron radiation consists of neutrons.
Sources of radiation: Radiation can come from natural sources like the sun and elements in the earth's crust, as well as artificial sources like medical procedures and nuclear power plants.
Units of radiation measurement: Radiation can be measured in different units like Sieverts (Sv), Gray (Gy), and Becquerel (Bq). Sieverts are used to measure the radiation dose received by a person, Gy is used to measure the amount of radiation absorbed by a material, and Bq is used to measure radioactive activity.
Effects of radiation exposure: Depending on the dose and duration of radiation exposure, it can cause various effects on the body including skin damage, nausea, radiation sickness, cancer, and genetic damage.
Radiation protection: There are various methods available to protect individuals from radiation exposure such as using personal protective equipment, reducing exposure time, and increasing distance from the radiation source.
Regulations on radiation exposure: Different countries have established regulations on radiation exposure to ensure the safety of workers and the public.
Nuclear disasters: Nuclear disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima resulted in significant radiation exposure to workers and nearby residents, leading to multiple health issues and overall environmental damage.
Radiation in medicine: Radiation plays a significant role in medical procedures like X-rays and radiation therapy. However, proper precautions must be taken to minimize the risks to patients and healthcare providers.
Radiation detection: Different devices like Geiger counters and dosimeters are used to detect and measure radiation levels.
Radiation emergency response: In case of a radiation emergency like a nuclear accident, proper response plans are essential to mitigate the exposure and protect workers and the public.
Alpha Radiation: Consists of alpha particles which are positively charged helium nuclei. They have low penetration power and are stopped by a few centimetres of air, paper, or skin.
Beta Radiation: Consists of beta particles which are negatively charged electrons. They have moderate penetration power and can penetrate up to a few millimetres of skin or a few centimetres of air.
Gamma Radiation: Consists of high-energy photons or electromagnetic waves. They have high penetration power and can penetrate several metres of concrete or several centimetres of lead.
X-Rays: Similar to gamma radiation, but they are artificially produced and have lower energy. They are widely used in medical imaging and diagnosis.
Neutron Radiation: Consists of neutrons which are uncharged particles. They have high penetration power and can travel through several metres of concrete.
Cosmic Radiation: Interstellar radiation that reaches the earth's surface. It is mostly composed of high-energy protons and atomic nuclei.
Ionizing Radiation: Radiation that has enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules by knocking off electrons from their outer shells.
Non-ionizing Radiation: Radiation that does not have enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules but can still cause heating or chemical reactions in biological tissues.
Ultraviolet Radiation: Solar radiation that has a shorter wavelength than visible light. It can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Infrared Radiation: Electromagnetic radiation that has longer wavelengths than visible light. It is felt as heat and can cause burns at high intensities.
Microwaves: Electromagnetic radiation with longer wavelengths than infrared radiation. They are used in microwave ovens and communication devices.
Radio Waves: Electromagnetic radiation with the longest wavelengths. They are used in radio and television broadcasts.
- "This includes electromagnetic radiation, such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, x-rays, and gamma radiation (γ)."
- "Particle radiation, such as alpha radiation (α), beta radiation (β), proton radiation, and neutron radiation (particles of non-zero rest energy)."
- "Acoustic radiation, such as ultrasound, sound, and seismic waves (dependent on a physical transmission medium)."
- "Gravitational radiation takes the form of gravitational waves, or ripples in the curvature of spacetime."
- "Radiation is often categorized as either ionizing or non-ionizing depending on the energy of the radiated particles."
- "Ionizing radiation carries more than 10 eV, which is enough to ionize atoms and molecules and break chemical bonds. This is an important distinction due to the large difference in harmfulness to living organisms."
- "A common source of ionizing radiation is radioactive materials that emit α, β, or γ radiation... Other sources include X-rays from medical radiography examinations and muons, mesons, positrons, neutrons, and other particles that constitute the secondary cosmic rays."
- "Gamma rays, X-rays, and the higher energy range of ultraviolet light constitute the ionizing part of the electromagnetic spectrum."
- "The waves of longer wavelength than UV in visible light, infrared and microwave frequencies cannot ionize atoms but can disrupt the inter-atomic bonds which form molecules, thereby breaking down molecules rather than atoms."
- "Radio wavelengths and below generally are not regarded as harmful to biological systems."
- "The word 'radiation' arises from the phenomenon of waves radiating (i.e., traveling outward in all directions) from a source."
- "Because such radiation expands as it passes through space, and as its energy is conserved (in vacuum), the intensity of all types of radiation from a point source follows an inverse-square law in relation to the distance from its source."
- "This aspect leads to a system of measurements and physical units that are applicable to all types of radiation."
- "Like any ideal law, the inverse-square law approximates a measured radiation intensity to the extent that the source approximates a geometric point."
- "Ionizing radiation carries more than 10 eV, which is enough to ionize atoms and molecules and break chemical bonds."
- "A common source of ionizing radiation is radioactive materials that emit α, β, or γ radiation, consisting of helium nuclei, electrons or positrons, and photons, respectively."
- "The waves of longer wavelength than UV in visible light, infrared and microwave frequencies cannot ionize atoms but can disrupt the inter-atomic bonds which form molecules, thereby breaking down molecules rather than atoms."
- "Ionizing radiation carries more than 10 eV, which is enough to ionize atoms and molecules and break chemical bonds. This is an important distinction due to the large difference in harmfulness to living organisms."
- "Radio wavelengths and below generally are not regarded as harmful to biological systems."