Types of Radiation (2) Flashcards
What is Electromagnetic Radiation?
form of energy measured on the electromagnetic spectrum
Electromagnetic Radiation characteristics
- no mass
- travel at the speed of light (3x10¹⁰ cm/sec)
- not affected by magnetic fields
- expose photographic film
- energy of the wave is = frequency (f)
What is frequency?
the number of cycles per second (Hz)
Compare: Frequency, Wavelength, Energy and Penetrating power
⇧frequency
⇩ wavelength
⇧energy
⇧ penetrating power
What is Ionizing Radiation?
Causes neutral atoms to lose electrons, making them positively charged.
Define Ionization
Creation of an Ion Pair (positive ion and a negative ion) created when a high-energy particle (photon) dislodges an electron from orbit causing the atom to be short an electron turning into a positive ion, and the knocked out electron is the negative ion.
Ionizing energy is the minimum energy required ____
to remove an electron from an atoms orbital shells and create ions.
In order to create ionization, incident energy must ____
be at minimum, equal to the binding forces of the electron. If higher the remaining energy will cause more ionization until it is all absorbed.
Particulate radiation
Alpha Particles , Beta particles and Neutrons (produced during the disintegration of a radioactive nucleus.
Electromagnetic radiation
X-rays and Gamma rays
Examples of Non-Ionizing Radiation
- heat
- microwaves
- visible light
- infrared light
- radio waves
- some ultraviolet lights
What are ions?
An atom with more or fewer electrons in its outer shell than it has in its neutral state. (positive or negative ions)
Define Excited State
When an incident particles energy is not important enough to dislodge an electron, it will still transfer some energy leaving the atom in an Excited State (overly charged)
Define Specific Ionization
Number of ion pairs produced per length of the particles path
Define Total Ionization
Total number of ion pairs produced along the particle path
