Irradiation and ionisation

Question 1

What is ionisation?

Answer 1

when an electron is knocked out by the radiation, it ionises.

Question 2

What does irradiated mean?

Answer 2

When an object is exposed to ionising radiation, but it does not become radioactive.

Question 3

What does Contaminated mean?

Answer 3

The unwanted presence of radioactive atoms on other material. This is due to the unwanted decay of the radioactive atoms on the object.

Question 4

Why is alpha radiation more dangerous on skin and internally than a metre away?

Answer 4

Because A radiation is more ionising so will ionise our skin. This will increase the chance for cancer and can possibly damage/kill the cells or tissues. It will also contaminate us and can decay whilst being on us. So it may harm the surrounding if some is very close contact.

But will be absorbed when it is a metre away by the air. So it wont harm or even irradiate the skin.

Question 5

What do we do to reduce contact and exposure from sources?

Answer 5

Keeping distance by using tools made specially so long handles

Spending as little time as possible

Shielding them selves by staying behind concrete barriers or using thick lead plates.