Radiation

  • Understanding “Radiation”: This refers to the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, particularly high-energy particles that cause ionisation.

  • Types of Radiation: Broadly, there are two types, namely ionising and non-ionising radiation. Ionising is more harmful as it has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, leading to ionisation. Examples include alpha, beta, gamma, and X-rays, ultraviolet light etc.

  • Non-ionising Radiation: This type has lower energy and cannot remove electrons. Examples include radio waves, microwaves, visible light etc.

  • Alpha Particles: These carry a positive charge and are composed of two protons and two neutrons. They can be stopped by substances as lightweight as a sheet of paper or human skin.

  • Beta Particles: They are high energy electrons and carry a negative charge. They possess greater penetration capabilities compared to alpha particles, but can be stopped by a thin sheet of metal.

  • Gamma Rays: These are highly penetrative electromagnetic radiations, which can only be stopped by dense materials like lead or thick layers of concrete.

  • X-Rays: These are similar to gamma rays but usually of lower energy. They can penetrate through soft tissues but not harder substances like bones or metals.

  • Harmful Effects of Radiation: Overexposure to ionising radiation can lead to a host of health issues including damage to living tissue, mutations, cancers and even death.

  • Detecting Radiation: Certain devices such as Geiger-Muller tubes or radiation dosimeters are designed to detect and measure the level of radiation exposure.

  • Protection against Radiation: Lead aprons, devices such as dosimeters to monitor exposure, and evacuation or shielding in high radiation areas serve as standard precautions.

  • Uses of Radiation: Despite its harmful effects, radiation finds substantial use in domains like sterilisation, medical imaging and treatments, industrial radiography, power generation and more.

  • Wave-Particle Duality: In the realm of quantum physics, radiation simultaneously exhibit properties of both waves and particles, a concept known as wave-particle duality.

  • Speed of Light: All electromagnetic radiation travels at the speed of light in vacuum, that is 299,792 kilometres per second.