Ionizing radiationRadiation with so much energy it can knock electrons out of atoms. Ionizing radiation can affect the atoms in living things, so it poses a health risk by damaging tissue and DNA in genes. has sufficient energy to affect the atoms in living cells and thereby damage their genetic material (DNA).

Gamma rays are a radiation hazard for the entire body. They can easily penetrate barriers that can stop alpha and beta particles, such as skin and clothing. Gamma rays can pass completely through the human body; as they pass through, they can cause ionizations that damage tissue and DNA.

Ionizing radiation is generated through nuclear reactions, nuclear decay, by very high temperature, or via acceleration of charged particles in electromagnetic fields. Natural sources include the sun, lightning and supernova explosions.

Alpha, beta, and gamma rays also cause damage to living matter, in varying degrees. Beta particles are also damaging to DNA, and therefore are often used in radiation therapy to mutate and kill cancer cells. Gamma rays are often considered the most dangerous type of radiation to living matter.

The EM spectrum is generally divided into seven regions, in order of decreasing wavelength and increasing energy and frequency. The common designations are: radio waves, microwaves, infrared (IR), visible light, ultraviolet (UV), X-rays and gamma rays.

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.

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.

gamma radiation

Radiation

• 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)

There are four major types of radiation: alpha, beta, neutrons, and electromagnetic waves such as gamma rays.

Alpha, beta and gamma

The three most common types of radiation are alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays.

To determine the type of radiation (alpha, beta or gamma), first determine the background count rate, then the source count rate with no absorber. Next, place a sheet of paper between the source and the monitor. If the counts are significantly reduced, the source emits alpha particles.

Gamma rays

Depending on their energy, they can be stopped by a thin piece of aluminum foil, or they can penetrate several inches of lead. In this experiment, we study the penetrating power of each type of radiation.

Alpha

Health hazards and protection. In health physics, neutron radiation is a type of radiation hazard. Due to the high kinetic energy of neutrons, this radiation is considered the most severe and dangerous radiation to the whole body when it is exposed to external radiation sources.

While ionizing radiation is short wavelength/high frequency higher energy. Ionizing Radiation has sufficient energy to produce ions in matter at the molecular level. This is not to say that non-ionizing radiation can’t cause injury to humans but the injury is generally limited to thermal damage i.e. burns.

Some examples of radiation include sunlight, radio waves, x-rays, heat, alpha, beta, gamma ionizing radiation, and infrared, just to name a few. Not all of these types of radiation are harmful, in fact, in moderation, most radiation will not pose a health risk.

Examples include heat or light from the sun, microwaves from an oven, X rays from an X-ray tube and gamma rays from radioactive elements. Ionizing radiation can remove electrons from the atoms, i.e. it can ionize atoms.

The light from the Sun that reaches the earth is largely composed of non-ionizing radiation, since the ionizing far-ultraviolet rays have been filtered out by the gases in the atmosphere, particularly oxygen.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a form of electromagnetic radiation that comes from the sun and man-made sources like tanning beds and welding torches. Higher-energy UV rays are a form of ionizing radiation. This means they have enough energy to remove an electron from (ionize) an atom or molecule.

Listen to pronunciation. (I-uh-NY-zing RAY-dee-AY-shun) A type of high-energy radiation that has enough energy to remove an electron (negative particle) from an atom or molecule, causing it to become ionized. Ionizing radiation can cause chemical changes in cells and damage DNA.