Radiation?
radiation one typically encounters is one of four types: alpha radiation, beta radiation, gamma radiation, and x radiation. Neutron radiation is also encountered in nuclear power plants and high-altitude flight and emitted from some industrial radioactive sources. (Baes)
Alpha Radiation: a heavy, very short-range particle and is actually an ejected helium nucleus. Some characteristics of alpha radiation are:
Beta Radiation: is a light, short-range particle and is actually an ejected electron. Some characteristics of beta radiation are:
Gramma Radiation: highly penetrating electromagnetic radiation. Some characteristics of these radiations are:
radiation one typically encounters is one of four types: alpha radiation, beta radiation, gamma radiation, and x radiation. Neutron radiation is also encountered in nuclear power plants and high-altitude flight and emitted from some industrial radioactive sources. (Baes)
Alpha Radiation: a heavy, very short-range particle and is actually an ejected helium nucleus. Some characteristics of alpha radiation are:
- Most alpha radiation is not able to penetrate human skin.
- Alpha-emitting materials can be harmful to humans if the materials are inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through open wounds. (Baes)
Beta Radiation: is a light, short-range particle and is actually an ejected electron. Some characteristics of beta radiation are:
- Beta radiation may travel several feet in air and is moderately penetrating.
- Beta radiation can penetrate human skin to the "germinal layer," where new skin cells are produced. (Baes)
Gramma Radiation: highly penetrating electromagnetic radiation. Some characteristics of these radiations are:
- Gamma radiation or x rays are able to travel many feet in air and many inches in human tissue. They readily penetrate most materials and are sometimes called "penetrating" radiation.
- X rays are like gamma rays. X rays, too, are penetrating radiation. Sealed radioactive sources and machines that emit gamma radiation and x rays respectively constitute mainly an external hazard to humans. (Baes)