Electromagnetic Spectrum 2 Flashcards
What is ultraviolet light?
Ultraviolet light is invisible to the human eye but can have hazardous effects on the body.
What effects can ultraviolet light have on the skin?
Ultraviolet light can cause the skin to tan or burn.
How do energy-efficient lamps utilize ultraviolet light?
Fluorescent substances in energy-efficient lamps absorb ultraviolet light and re-emit it as visible light.
What causes electromagnetic waves in medicine?
Changes in atoms and their nuclei can generate or absorb electromagnetic waves.
What are gamma rays?
Gamma rays are produced by changes in the nucleus of an atom and are a form of nuclear radiation.
Why are X-rays and gamma rays ideal for internal imaging?
They are high energy waves that transmit through body tissues with very little absorption.
What structures absorb X-rays?
X-rays are absorbed by dense structures like bones.
What is ionising radiation?
Ionising radiation includes ultraviolet waves, X-rays, and gamma rays, which can add or remove electrons from molecules.
What hazardous effects can ionising radiation have on the body?
Ultraviolet waves can cause skin to age prematurely and increase the risk of skin cancer; X-rays and gamma rays can cause gene mutations leading to cancer.
What is radiation dose?
Radiation dose measures the risk of harm from exposure to ionising radiation.
How is radiation dose measured?
Radiation dose is measured in Sieverts (Sv), often given in millisieverts (mSv).
1000 mSv = 1 Sv
What is background radiation?
Background radiation is the radiation present in the environment at all times.
What are some sources of background radiation?
Sources include radioactive rocks, cosmic rays, and man-made sources like nuclear weapons fallout and accidents.
What factors affect the level of background radiation and dose?
Factors include the jobs people do and the places where they live.
