![]() These sources must be shielded (i.e., surrounded by a material that can block radiation) to prevent or reduce radiation exposure. Equipment that contains radioactive material, such as some industrial radiography equipment, cannot be turned off because the radioactive source emits ionizing radiation. Radiation-generating machines, such as medical X-ray machines, produce ionizing radiation electronically and stop producing radiation when turned off. Radioactive materials can be naturally occurring (such as uranium and radium found in the earth) or manmade in an accelerator or reactor. Sources of ionizing radiation include radioactive materials and radiation-generating machines. What are the Sources of Ionizing Radiation? Each radionuclide decays at a different rate. Radionuclides (also known as radioisotopes) are elements in an unstable form, which are radioactive but will lose their radioactivity over time through radioactive decay as they change to a more stable isotope or element. ![]() Examples include radio waves, microwaves, and visible light.įor more information about the types of ionizing radiation, see the What are the types of ionizing radiation? section. In contrast, non-ionizing radiation has a lower energy that is not capable of ionizing other atoms. In this context, an unstable atom is said to be "radioactive," and the energy it releases is referred to as "radiation." When the radiation has enough energy to ionize other atoms (i.e., remove negatively-charged particles called "electrons") in its path, it is referred to as "ionizing radiation." Types of ionizing radiation include alpha, beta, and neutron particles gamma rays and X-rays. Some isotopes are unstable and give off energy (i.e., decay) to become more stable. The number of protons determines the element (oxygen, hydrogen, etc.), and the number of neutrons determines the isotope (hydrogen-1, hydrogen-2, etc.). Atoms consist of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons in orbitals around the nucleus. Atoms are the basic building blocks of all matter, and atoms of different elements occur naturally on the earth.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |