Radiation Facts

Radiation is when the nuclei of atoms give off rays of high energy. Out of the 1,500 known atoms on Earth only about 50 of them give off intense radiation. There are three kinds of radiation: alpha rays, beta rays, and gamma rays. Alpha rays have a positive charge consisting of two protons and two neutrons. Alpha rays are emitted with high energy but lose energy very quickly. About two or three sheets of paper can stop an alpha ray. Beta rays are electrons. Most nuclei emit ordinary electrons. But some emit positrons. Beta particles can travel the speed of light and some can penetrate a half inch of wood. Gamma rays don't have an electrical charge. They are the same as x-rays. Gamma rays are photons. They travel the speed of light. They are also much more penetrating then alpha and beta particles.

Radiation originates in the nuclei. Alpha particles consist of only protons and neutrons. These are fragments of the nuclei that emit them. There are no electrons in the nucleus. In beta radiation a change in the nucleus creates a electron. When atoms give off alpha or beta radiation they change into atoms of a different element. Since gamma rays have no charge they don't result in transmutation. When the nucleus emits an alpha particle that nucleus loses two protons and two neutrons. For example, in U²³⁸ an isotope of uranium alpha radiation occurs. In U²³⁸ there are 92 protons and 146 neutrons. After losing an alpha particle the nucleus has 90 protons and 144 neutrons. This atom is no longer uranium. This atom formed is thorium. The isotope formed is ₉₀TH²³⁴. When a nucleus emits a beta particle it also emits a neutrino. A neutrino like a neutron has no electric charge.

In radiation of a negative beta particle a neutron in the nucleus turns into a proton a negative electron and a neutrino. Once the neutrino and the electron form they are emitted and the proton remains in the nucleus. Gamma radiation can occur in many different ways. One way is when a alpha or beta particle is emitted but the particle fails to carry off all the available energy. After emission the nucleus has more energy than in its stable state. To balance this out the nucleus gives off gamma rays. Radiation is used heavily in medicine. Radioisotopes can detect abnormal behavior in certain organs of the body.

Radioisotopes also can be used to treat cancer. When you have cancer your cells reproduce at a very fast rate. Radioisotopes destroy the cancerous cells. Radiation though destroys living tissue so you need to be shielded from excess rays. Alpha and beta rays are easily absorbed by the body but gamma rays can be very dangerous. Every day approximately 3,000 people are diagnosed with cancer. Also every day approximately 2,000 people die from a form of cancer. Scientists are still trying to find safer and more effective ways to use radiation to treat cancer. When radiation therapy is perfected many people's lives will be saved.