Radiation Flashcards
Radiation
The emission or travel of energy either as particles or electromagnetic waves
Ionising Radiation
Has enough energy to strip electrons away from other atoms/molecules
e.g X-rays and gamma rays
Non ionising radiation
Can interact with materials but it does not have enough energy to remove electrons
e.g Radiowaves, microwaves, infrared
Risks/Benefits of both types of radiation
Ionising - can kill or cause cancer, allows us to see tissue and kill cancer cells
Non-ionising - Can cause burns, allows us to see and keep us warm
Nuclear radiation
The release of radiation due to the breakdown of an atoms nucleus (nuclear decay)
Nuclear fission
When struck by another particle the atom can split into two smaller atoms (release a lot of energy in heat and gamma radiation)
Radioisotopes
Isotopes that are unstable and breakdown to release nuclear radiation
Types of radiation produced by nuclear decay
Alpha rays
Beta rays
Gamma rays
X-rays
Alpha rays
Made of helium nuclei which are released when radioisotopes decay their nucleus (2 protons and 2 neutrons)
What stops alpha rays
Paper
Beta rays
Rays of electrons that have been released from atoms where a neutron has turned into a proton due to nucleus decay
What stops beta rays?
Metal
Gamma rays
High frequency electromagnetic waves produced by photons that are released when an isotope has too much energy
What stops gamma rays
Lead
X-rays
emitted from electrons
What stops x-rays?
Lead
Radioactive half life
The time it takes for half a specific amount of radioisotope to decay into a stable form
Biological half life of an isotope
The time it takes for half the radioisotope to be eliminated (removed) from the body via normal excretion. Depends on how the isotope is dealt with and excreted by body systems
Direct damage to cells via radiation
Radiation can physically collide with components of the cell and break them apart, destroying their function and cell processes are disrupted
Indirect damage to cells via radiation
Caused by ionising radiation. Alpha and beta particles passing by other molecules stripping electrons from them creating a molecule with a net positive charge which can form free radicals that induce oxidative damage
3 big considerations working with radiation
Type
Time
Distance
