Types of Radiation
X rays, gamma rays, alpha particles, and beta particles are ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation has a lot of energy that gives it the ability to cause changes in atoms—a process called ionization. Radio and TV signals, microwaves, and laser light are nonionizing types of radiation. Nonionizing radiation has less energy than ionizing radiation.
Naturally Occurring Radiation
Naturally Occurring Radiation. Naturally occurring radiation can be found all around us. Radiation can be found in soils, in our air and water, and in us. Because it occurs in our natural environment, we encounter it every day through the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. It is also in building materials and items we ...
Medical Uses for Radiation
Medical exams involving radiation are considered beneficial to the individual. This is where you can take an active role. It is important that you know what the exam is, what it is for, and how the results will be important to what is needed for you medically.
Sources & Uses of Radiation
Many uses of radiation help to ensure the high quality and safety of our daily lives. Smoke detectors to warn us of fire, x-ray machines to detect weapons or other devices in luggage and cargo, and certain types of imaging to look for diseases are all application of radiation for the benefit of society.
Non-ionizing Radiation Effects and Information
Nonionizing Radiation. We use and are exposed to nonionizing radiation sources every day. Microwave ovens use microwaves to heat food, toasters use infrared waves to heat and sometimes burn our toast, and we watch television, talk on cell phones, and listen to the radio through the use of radio waves. These are all nonionizing forms of radiation.
Types of Emissions - Radiation Answers
The information we are providing discusses only the four most common types: alpha particles, beta particles, gamma rays, and x rays. Alpha Particles Alpha particles are a type of radiation that do not travel very far, do not pass through anything very thick, and can generally be absorbed or stopped by an inch or less (1-2 centimeters) of air or ...
Ionizing Radiation
Ionizing Radiation. Much of the information included on this site is about ionizing radiation. This is the type of radiation that has enough energy to change atoms in tissues. This is the radiation of chest x rays or nuclear power plant fuel. We take advantage of the properties of ionizing radiation to produce high-quality images of the inside ...
Acute vs. Chronic Exposure - Radiation Answers
Or think about radioactive materials that naturally occur in our soils; they present us with small amounts of radiation exposure that occur over our lifetime. Depending on the source, time of an exposure can vary—in some cases, the time will be very short, seconds or less, and in other cases it will be occurring continuously over our lifetime.
Geiger-Mueller (GM) Meter - Radiation Answers
You might hear this meter referred to as a “pancake” or “GM pancake” because of the look of the device. A GM meter is often portable, and the efficiency of a GM for detecting radiation depends on four factors: The type of radiation. The energy of the radiation. The amount of …
Radiation External Exposure
The source of radiation can be a piece of equipment that produces the radiation, like an x-ray machine, or it can be from radioactive materials in a container. The exposure occurs when the radiation from these sources interacts with our body and the dose occurs when the radiation leaves some of the energy in our body.