Radiation

Nonionizing

Microwaves

Radio Waves

Ionizing

Infrared

Light

Ultraviolet

NeutronRadiation

BetaParticles

AlphaParticles

GammaRays

X-rays

NuclearRadiation

OtherSources

Radiation

Radiation is the transfer of energy or particles

over a distance.

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Nonionizing Radiation

Nonionizing radiation is radiation that does not have enough energy to remove electrons from atoms.

Nonionizing radiation is not as dangerous as ionizing radiation. However, too much exposure to nonionizing can cause damage to human tissue

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Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiation is radiation that has enough energy to strip electrons away from atoms.

This can change the structure of the molecules in the human body and cause significant damage.

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Other Sources

Other sources include very hot objects in the universe and x-ray machines.

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Nuclear Radation

Nuclear radiation is caused by changes in the nucleus of an atom.

There are four types: alpha, beta, gamma, and neutron.

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Alpha Decay

An alpha particle is a Helium 4 nucleus (two protons and two neutrons). It is produced by nuclear fission in which a massive nucleus breaks apart in two less massive nuclei (one of them is the alpha particle).

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Beta DecayBeta decay occurs when the neutron to proton ratio is

too great in the nucleus and causes instability. In basic beta decay, a neutron is turned into a proton and an electron. The electron is then emitted at a high speed.

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Gamma Decay

Gamma decay occurs because the nucleus is at too high of an energy state. The nucleus falls down to a lower state and, in the process, emits a high energy gamma photon or wave.

Many nuclear reactions and interactions result in the emission of gamma radiation. We can take advantage of these interactions for medicinal purposes, especially cancer treatments.

Distant galaxies are also prodigious sources of gamma radiation, where they are thought to be produced by very hot matter falling into massive black holes in the center of the host galaxy. Fortunately, our atmosphere shields the Earth from most of the gamma rays produced in deep space.

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Neutron Radiation

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Neutron radiation is neutrons released from the nucleus during interactions such as nuclear fission or fusion.

Neutrons are part of the basic building blocks of atoms. They have no charge and are about the same mass as a proton.

Due to ion producing collisions with matter and absorption/decay processes, neutrons are a type of ionizing radiation.