Types
of Nuclear Radiation
1)
Alpha
- Not
penetrating in the outer layer of skin, but toxic
inside the body
|
3)
Gamma and X-ray
- A
high energy photon
- Very
penetrating and the most common external hazard
to human body
|
2)
Beta
- Consists
of fast moving electrons
- Penetrating,
depends on the energy of the source
|
4)
Neutron
- Very
penetrating and very hazardous to human body
|
Radioactivity
- The rate of decay or transformation of a nuclear substance
is described by its activity
-
Curie (Ci) or becquerel (Bq) is a unit of measure for
radioactivity
Physical
Half-Life
- The amount
of time required for an initial activity of a nuclear substance
to be reduced by one-half or fifty
percent
(50%)
Here are some
common nuclear substances...
| Nuclear Substance |
Types of Radiation |
Half-life |
Use |
| Iodine 131 |
Beta and Gamma
(medium energy) |
8 days |
Medical research & hyperthyroid treatment |
| Phosphorus 32 |
Beta (high energy) |
14 days |
Medical research |
| Iodine 125 |
Gamma (low energy) |
60 days |
Medical research |
| Sodium 22 |
Beta and Gamma
(high energy) |
2.6 years |
Physics research |
| Tritium (H-3) |
Beta (very low energy) |
12.3 years |
Medical research |
| Americium 241 |
Alpha (high energy) |
433 years |
Smoke detectors |
| Carbon 14 |
Beta (low energy) |
5,730 years |
Medical research |
|
