radioactive isotope, any of several species of the samechemical elementwith different masses whose nuclei are unstable anddissipateexcess energy by spontaneously emittingradiationin the form ofalpha,beta, andgamma rays. A brief treatment of radioactive isotopes follows. For full treatment,seeisotope: ...
Explore gamma rays. Learn the definition of a gamma ray and see its characteristics. Find the sources of gamma rays on Earth and outer space, and...
Ionizing radiation: This is radiation with sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atomic orbital, forming an ion. Ionizing radiation includes x-ray, gamma rays, alpha particles, and beta particles. Neutrons:Neutrons are particlesfound in the atomic nucleus. When they break away from the ...
Ionizing radiation:carries enough energy (usually more than 10 eV) to ionize molecules, atoms and break chemical bonds. One of the common sources of such radiation is radioactive materials that emit alpha, beta, or gamma radiation. While ionizing radiation has several beneficial applications, prolon...
electron) emission, and electron capture. Beta decay was named (1899) byErnest Rutherfordwhen he observed that radioactivity was not a simple phenomenon. He called the less penetrating rays alpha and the more penetrating rays beta. Most beta particles are ejected at speeds approaching that oflight...
Types of Ionizing Radiation Alpha particle Beta particle Gamma rays Alpha Particle These are particulate radiations that are slow and heavy as compared to X-rays and gamma rays. Moreover, the alpha particle gets dangerous when inhaled. Further, Radon is colourless, odourless, and tasteless gas ...
breaking apart, letting off energy when they do. This energy is emitted in the form of particles. The particles emitted when the substance decays determine what type of decay it is. There are three main types of radiation from nuclear decay: alpha radiation, beta radiation and gamma radiation...
The famous physicists Marie Curie and Ernest Rutherford, among many others, discovered that radioactive decay results in positive and negative particles and neutral rays. Due to the different penetration characteristics, the three results were given the names alpha decay, beta decay, and gamma decay...
The detector in the ionization chamber detects the nature of the radiation (like X-rays, alpha, beta, or gamma) by collecting the charges formed in the irradiation process. These charges are collected by applying an electric field.Figure 18: Detection of the nature of ionizing radiations. ...
x-rays from an x-ray machine alpha particles emittedfrom the radioactive decay of uranium sound waves from your stereo microwaves from a microwave oven electromagnetic radiation from your cell phone ultraviolet light froma black light beta particle radiation from a sample of strontium-90 ...