Table of Contents
What makes radiation ionizing?
Ionizing radiation is radiation with enough energy that to remove tightly bound electrons from the orbit of an atom, causing that atom to become charged or ionized. Here we are concerned with only one type of radiation, ionizing radiation, which occurs in two forms: waves or particles.
Where does ionizing radiation occur?
Ionizing radiation is a type of energy released by atoms in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles. People are exposed to natural sources of ionizing radiation, such as in soil, water, and vegetation, as well as in human-made sources, such as x-rays and medical devices.
What are examples of ionizing radiation sources?
A familiar example of ionizing radiation is that of x-rays, which can penetrate our body and reveal pictures of our bones….Ionizing Radiation from Manmade Sources
- X-rays.
- CT or CAT (computed tomography) scans.
- PET (positron emission tomography) scans.
- Fluoroscopy.
- Nuclear medicine procedures.
What are the 3 types of Ionising radiation?
Types of Ionizing Radiation
- Alpha Particles. Alpha particles (α) are positively charged and made up of two protons and two neutrons from the atom’s nucleus.
- Beta Particles.
- Gamma Rays.
What is the strongest ionizing radiation?
Alpha particles
Alpha particles have approximately four times the mass of a proton or neutron and approximately ~8,000 times the mass of a beta particle (Figure 5.4. 1). Because of the large mass of the alpha particle, it has the highest ionizing power and the greatest ability to damage tissue.
How can you protect yourself from ionizing radiation?
When it comes to ionizing radiation, remember time, distance, and shielding:
- Minimize time spent in areas with elevated radiation levels.
- Maximize distance from source(s) of radiation.
- Use shielding for radiation sources (i.e., placing an appropriate shield between source(s) of radiation and workers).
How do you cleanse your body of radiation?
Decontamination. Decontamination involves removing external radioactive particles. Removing clothing and shoes eliminates about 90 percent of external contamination. Gently washing with water and soap removes additional radiation particles from the skin.
What are 4 examples of radiation?
Radiation Examples
- ultraviolet light from the sun.
- heat from a stove burner.
- visible light from a candle.
- x-rays from an x-ray machine.
- alpha particles emitted from the radioactive decay of uranium.
- sound waves from your stereo.
- microwaves from a microwave oven.
- electromagnetic radiation from your cell phone.
What are the two sources of ionizing radiation?
What are the Sources of Ionizing Radiation? Sources of ionizing radiation include radioactive materials and radiation-generating machines. Radioactive materials can be naturally occurring (such as uranium and radium found in the earth) or manmade in an accelerator or reactor.
What are the 7 types of radiation?
The electromagnetic spectrum includes, from longest wavelength to shortest: radio waves, microwaves, infrared, optical, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma-rays. To tour the electromagnetic spectrum, follow the links below!
Do cell phones emit ionizing radiation?
Cell phones emit low levels of non-ionizing radiation when in use. The type of radiation emitted by cell phones is also referred to as radio frequency (RF) energy. As stated by the National Cancer Institute, “there is currently no consistent evidence that non-ionizing radiation increases cancer risk in humans.
What type of radiation is harmful?
Gamma rays are the most harmful external hazard. Beta particles can partially penetrate skin, causing “beta burns”. Alpha particles cannot penetrate intact skin. Gamma and x-rays can pass through a person damaging cells in their path.