"Ionizing radiation (or ionising radiation), including nuclear radiation, consists of subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves that have sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules by detaching electrons from them."
An overview of the types of radiation (alpha, beta, and gamma) and their characteristics.
Atomic structure: The basic structure of atoms, including protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Radioactivity: The spontaneous emission of radiation by certain unstable atomic nuclei.
Types of radiation: The three main types of radiation are alpha, beta, and gamma.
Alpha radiation: A type of radiation consisting of particles that are the nuclei of helium atoms, which have a positive charge and low penetrating power.
Beta radiation: A type of radiation consisting of particles that are high-energy electrons or positrons, which have a negative or positive charge and moderate penetrating power.
Gamma radiation: A type of radiation consisting of high-energy photons, which have no charge and high penetrating power.
Background radiation: The low level of radiation that is present in the environment from natural sources such as rocks and soil, as well as man-made sources such as medical imaging.
Radiation dose: The amount of radiation absorbed by an organism, typically measured in sieverts or millisieverts.
Radiation exposure: The amount of radiation that an organism is exposed to, typically measured in millisieverts per year.
Radiation effects: The biological effects of radiation exposure, including acute effects such as radiation sickness and long-term effects such as increased cancer risk.
Radioactive decay: The process by which unstable atomic nuclei emit radiation and transform into more stable isotopes.
Half-life: The time it takes for half of a sample of a radioactive isotope to decay into a more stable form.
Radiometric dating: A method of determining the age of rocks or fossils by measuring the decay of radioactive isotopes within them.
Nuclear fission: The process by which a nucleus is split into smaller fragments, releasing energy and neutrons.
Nuclear fusion: The process by which two atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy.
Alpha radiation: This type of radiation involves the emission of alpha particles, which are made up of two protons and two neutrons. They are relatively heavy and have a short range, meaning they are easily stopped by materials such as paper or even the outer layer of skin.
Beta radiation: This type of radiation involves the emission of beta particles, which are high-energy electrons or positrons. They are lighter than alpha particles and can penetrate some materials such as aluminum foil or wood, but can be stopped by denser materials such as lead.
Gamma radiation: This type of radiation involves the release of gamma rays, which are high-energy photons. They are the most penetrating type of radiation and can travel through most materials such as concrete or steel.
X-rays: Similar to gamma rays, X-rays are high-energy photons that can penetrate through many materials. They are commonly used in medical imaging and radiation therapy.
Neutron radiation: This type of radiation involves the release of neutrons, which are uncharged particles found in the nucleus of atoms. They can penetrate deeply into materials such as concrete or lead.
Cosmic radiation: This type of radiation comes from space and includes high-energy particles such as protons, alpha particles, and electrons. It can be harmful to astronauts and high-altitude airplane passengers.
Ionizing radiation: Any type of radiation that has enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules, meaning it can strip away electrons and cause chemical changes in biological tissue. These types of radiation can be harmful to living organisms.
Non-ionizing radiation: Any type of radiation that does not have enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules. Examples include visible light, radio waves, and microwaves.
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation: A type of ionizing radiation that comes from the sun and can cause skin damage and increase the risk of skin cancer.
Radon: A naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate in buildings and increase the risk of lung cancer if inhaled over time.
Nuclear radiation: Radiation that originates from the nucleus of an atom, such as alpha, beta, and gamma radiation. It can be naturally occurring or the result of human activity such as nuclear power or weapons testing.
Electromagnetic radiation: A form of radiation that includes gamma rays, X-rays, UV rays, visible light, radio waves, and microwaves. It is produced by the movement of electric and magnetic fields.
Radioactivity: The spontaneous emission of particles or energy from the nucleus of an atom, resulting in the atom changing into a different element. Examples include alpha and beta decay.
"Gamma rays, X-rays, and the higher energy ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum are ionizing radiation."
"The lower energy ultraviolet, visible light, nearly all types of laser light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves are non-ionizing radiation."
"The boundary between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation in the ultraviolet area cannot be sharply defined, as different molecules and atoms ionize at different energies."
"The energy of ionizing radiation starts between 10 electronvolts (eV) and 33 eV."
"Typical ionizing subatomic particles include alpha particles, beta particles, and neutrons. These are typically created by radioactive decay, and almost all are energetic enough to ionize."
"Yes, there are secondary cosmic particles produced after cosmic rays interact with Earth's atmosphere, including muons, mesons, and positrons."
"Cosmic rays and the decay of radioactive isotopes are the primary sources of natural ionizing radiation on Earth, contributing to background radiation."
"Ionizing radiation is also generated artificially by X-ray tubes, particle accelerators, and nuclear fission."
"Instruments such as Geiger counters are used to detect and measure ionizing radiation."
"Yes, very high energy particles can produce visible effects on both organic and inorganic matter (e.g. water lighting in Cherenkov radiation) or humans (e.g. acute radiation syndrome)."
"Ionizing radiation is used in a wide variety of fields such as medicine, nuclear power, research, and industrial manufacturing."
"Exposure to ionizing radiation causes cell damage to living tissue and organ damage."
"In high acute doses, it will result in radiation burns and radiation sickness."
"Yes, lower level doses over a protracted time can cause cancer."
"The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) issues guidance on ionizing radiation protection."
"Subatomic particles or electromagnetic waves have sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules by detaching electrons from them."
"The lower energy ultraviolet, visible light, nearly all types of laser light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves are non-ionizing radiation."
"Typical ionizing subatomic particles include alpha particles, beta particles, and neutrons."
"Exposure to ionizing radiation causes cell damage to living tissue and organ damage."