Radiation and EM Spectrum Flashcards
What is radiation?
Radiation is the transfer of energy through space by electromagnetic waves or particles.
What are the types of radiation?
The main types of radiation are alpha, beta, and gamma radiation.
What is the speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum?
The speed of electromagnetic waves in a vacuum is approximately 300,000,000 m/s (3 x 10^8 m/s).
Name the seven types of electromagnetic radiation in order from longest to shortest wavelength.
Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma rays.
Which type of electromagnetic radiation has the highest frequency?
Gamma rays.
Which type of electromagnetic radiation is used in mobile phones?
Microwaves.
What is ionizing radiation?
Ionizing radiation is radiation that carries enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, creating ions.
Give an example of a non-ionizing radiation.
Radio waves, microwaves, or visible light.
What is the wavelength range of visible light?
The wavelength of visible light ranges from approximately 400 nm to 700 nm.
What is the relationship between wavelength and frequency in electromagnetic waves?
The shorter the wavelength, the higher the frequency, and vice versa. The product of wavelength and frequency is the speed of light.
What is a common use of infrared radiation?
Infrared radiation is commonly used in remote controls and thermal imaging.
How does ultraviolet radiation affect human skin?
Ultraviolet radiation can cause sunburn and increase the risk of skin cancer.
What material can stop alpha radiation?
A sheet of paper or a few centimeters of air can stop alpha particles.
Which type of radiation is most penetrating?
Gamma radiation is the most penetrating.
What type of radiation is used in medical X-rays?
X-rays (a type of electromagnetic radiation) are used in medical imaging.
What is the unit used to measure radiation dose?
Sievert (Sv).
What are microwaves used for, apart from communication?
Microwaves are also used for cooking food in microwave ovens.
How can we protect ourselves from harmful radiation?
By using shielding materials (like lead for gamma rays), limiting exposure time, and increasing distance from the radiation source.
What is the main difference between alpha and beta radiation?
Alpha particles are made of two protons and two neutrons (helium nuclei), while beta particles are high-speed electrons or positrons.
What are some natural sources of radiation?
Cosmic rays from space, radon gas, and radioactive elements in the Earth’s crust.
How does a Geiger-Müller tube detect radiation?
A Geiger-Müller tube detects radiation by producing an electrical signal when radiation ionizes the gas inside the tube.
What is a common use of a scintillation detector?
A scintillation detector is used to measure radiation in medical imaging and radiation safety monitoring.
What is one environmental advantage of using nuclear power?
Nuclear power produces no carbon emissions during operation, which helps reduce greenhouse gases.
What is one major environmental risk of using nuclear power?
Nuclear power generates radioactive waste, which remains hazardous for thousands of years.
Name two types of radiation emitted during radioactive decay.
Alpha and beta radiation.
What kind of radiation is stopped by a sheet of aluminum?
Beta radiation.
What is the main difference between ionizing and non-ionizing radiation?
Ionizing radiation has enough energy to remove electrons from atoms, while non-ionizing radiation does not.
Why are gamma rays used in medical treatments like cancer therapy?
Gamma rays can penetrate deeply into tissues and are used to destroy cancer cells.
How does radiation from the electromagnetic spectrum benefit telecommunications?
Microwaves and radio waves are used for wireless communication, including television, mobile phones, and Wi-Fi.
What safety precautions should be taken when working with radioactive materials?
Workers should use lead shielding, limit exposure time, maintain distance from sources, and wear protective clothing.
How does ultraviolet radiation affect the human body?
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can damage skin cells, leading to sunburn or increasing the risk of skin cancer.
What type of radiation is used in household smoke detectors?
Alpha radiation, typically from a small amount of Americium-241.
What are the uses of radio waves?
Radio waves are used for broadcasting radio and TV signals, communications (e.g., mobile phones), and satellite transmissions.
What are the hazards of radio waves?
Radio waves generally have no significant hazards at common exposure levels.
What detectors are used for radio waves?
Aerials and radio receivers are used to detect radio waves.
What are the uses of microwaves?
Microwaves are used for cooking food, satellite communications, and mobile phone networks.
What are the hazards of microwaves?
Microwaves can cause internal heating of body tissues if exposed to high levels.
What detectors are used for microwaves?
Microwave receivers or special aerials detect microwaves.
What are the uses of infrared radiation?
Infrared radiation is used for remote controls, thermal imaging, and heating devices.
What are the hazards of infrared radiation?
Infrared radiation can cause skin burns if the exposure is high enough.
What detectors are used for infrared radiation?
Photodiodes, thermometers, and infrared cameras are used to detect infrared radiation.
What are the uses of visible light?
Visible light is used for illumination, photography, and vision.
What are the hazards of visible light?
Intense visible light can cause damage to the eyes, such as blindness.
What detectors are used for visible light?
Eyes, cameras, and photodiodes detect visible light.
What are the uses of ultraviolet radiation?
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is used in fluorescent lamps, sterilization, and security marking.
What are the hazards of ultraviolet radiation?
Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can cause skin cancer and eye damage.
What detectors are used for ultraviolet radiation?
Fluorescent materials and UV photodiodes detect ultraviolet radiation.
What are the uses of X-rays?
X-rays are used in medical imaging, airport security, and material testing.
What are the hazards of X-rays?
X-rays can damage cells and tissues, leading to an increased risk of cancer with high or prolonged exposure.
What detectors are used for X-rays?
Photographic plates and digital X-ray detectors are used to detect X-rays.
What are the uses of gamma rays?
Gamma rays are used in cancer treatment, sterilization of medical equipment, and food preservation.
What are the hazards of gamma rays?
Gamma rays are highly penetrating and can cause cancer or radiation sickness due to cellular damage.
What detectors are used for gamma rays?
Geiger-Müller tubes and scintillation counters detect gamma rays.
