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Overview of Radiation: Types, Dangers, Applications

This comprehensive guide introduces the different types of ionizing radiation, including alpha, beta, and gamma rays. Learn about the characteristics, penetration abilities, hazards, and common emitters of each type. Explore examples of radioactive materials' decay rates, understanding half-life, and the processes of fission and fusion. Discover the practical applications of radiation in fields like medicine, industry, and environmental studies. Enhanced with clear explanations and examples, this overview aims to educate and inform on the diverse aspects of radiation.

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Overview of Radiation: Types, Dangers, Applications

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  1. Introduction to Radiation: Radiation Types

  2. Types of Ionizing Radiation Alpha Particles Stopped by a sheet of paper Radiation Source Beta Particles Stopped by a layer of clothing or less than an inch of a substance (e.g. plastic) Gamma Rays Stopped by inches to feet of concrete or less than an inch of lead

  3. Radiation Types - Alpha • An alpha particle consists of two protons and two neutrons • Very large on an atomic scale • Positively charged • Penetration in materials • Outside the body, an alpha emitter is not a hazard unless it is on the skin • Inside the body, an alpha emitter is a bigger hazard if it deposits its energy in sensitive tissue

  4. Radiation Types - Alpha • Common alpha-particle emitters • Radon-222 gas in the environment • Uranium-234 and -238 in the environment • Polonium-210 in tobacco • Common alpha-particle emitter uses • Smoke detectors • Cigarettes/cigars • Static eliminators

  5. Radiation Types - Beta • A beta particle is a charged electron • Has the size and weight of an electron • Can be positively or negatively charged • Penetration in materials • At low energies, a beta particle is not very penetrating – stopped by the outer layer of skin or a piece of paper • At higher energies, a beta particle may penetrate to the live layer of skin and may need 0.5” of plexiglass to be stopped

  6. Radiation Types - Beta • Penetration in materials, continued • Inside the body, a beta particle is not as hazardous as an alpha particle because it is not as big • Because it is not as big, it travels farther, interacting with more tissue (but each small piece of tissue gets less energy deposited)

  7. Radiation Types - Beta • Common beta-particle emitters • Tritium (hydrogen-3) in the environment • Carbon (14) in the environment • Phosphorus (32) used in research and medicine • Common beta-particle emitter uses • Carbon dating • Basic research • Cancer treatment

  8. Radiation Types - Gamma • A photon is an x or gamma ray • Has no weight • Has no charge • Penetration in materials • At low energies, a photon can be stopped by a very thin (almost flexible) layer of lead or several centimeters of tissue • At higher energies, inches of lead might be necessary to stop a photon and they can pass right through a human

  9. Radiation Types - Gamma • Common photon emitters • Cesium (137) • Technetium (99m) used in medicine • Iodine (131) used in medicine • Common photon emitter uses • Determining the density of soil • Diagnosing disease • Cancer treatment

  10. Gamma Decay

  11. Examples of Radioactive Materials Physical RadioactiveHalf-LifeUse Cesium-137 30 yrs Food Irradiator Cobalt-60 5 yrs Cancer Therapy Plutonium-239 24,000 yrs Nuclear Weapon Iridium-192 74 days Industrial Radiography Hydrogen-3 12 yrs Exit Signs Strontium-90 29 yrs Eye Therapy Device Iodine-131 8 days Therapy Technetium-99m 6 hrs Imaging Americium-241 432 yrs Smoke Detectors Radon-222 4 days Environmental

  12. Rates of radioactive decay • All things do not decay at the same rate some decay faster than others do. • We use this time to gauge how old something is. • Based on how much of a parent element is present compared to the daughter element we can make a guess at how the object was when it started decaying

  13. Half-life • Half-Life is the amount of time it takes for one half of a sample of a radioactive element to decay into its daughter element. • Nuclear decay rates are constant and do not change. • After one half life how much of the substance would you have? • After 2 half lifes? • After 3 half lifes? • Increments of half life for what remains of the original amount is 1. 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128, 1/256

  14. Fission • Splitting an atomic nucleus into two smaller atoms. • Nuclear Bombs • Lots of energy from Fission • Energy released from one kg of uranium-235 is equivalent to burning 17,000 kg of coal!

  15. Fission

  16. Fusion • Process in which the nuclei of 2 atoms combine to form a larger nucleus. • Happens in all stars • Two hydrogens combine to form a helium but part of the mass turns into pure energy. • If we could harness that energy there is enough energy to fuel new york city for about a month in a tiny piece of chalk.

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