Types of Radiation
Radiation is a type of energy from the source that travels through space. There are
different types of radiation that has specific capabilities such as radiations due to the radioactive
decays and electromagnetic radiations.
In radioactive decay the alpha radiation is one of the most known this radiation emits
from various radioactive elements such radium, radon, uranium, thorium. It has Two protons
and two neutrons bound together (identical to a helium nucleus). It was used in many things
such as treatment for specific cancers and smoke detectors. One of its advantage is to deliver
radiation in a highly localized manner and its disadvantages is it is a harmful that can be able to
damage body tissues. Alpha particles are the least dangerous in terms of external exposure.
The beta radiation is the transmutation of a neutron into a proton and an electron. This
radiation emits from various elements such as lead-210, bismuth-214 and thallium-206. Beta
emitters are also commonly found in the radioactive products of nuclear fission. This is used for
health treatment such as bone cancer and eye treatments. It is dangerous as alpha radiation that
if inhaled or intake can cause damages in internal organs.
In the electromagnetic radiation the most dangerous radiation is the gamma radiation
where it has the shortest wavelength but it has the highest frequency, this radiation typically
used in laboratories for sterilizing utensils and also for cancer treatments. Its advantage is it is
widely useful in medicine, its disadvantage is it is very dangerous that can even destroy body
cells.
The next is the X radiation which named from the math symbols unknown X, this
radiation is commonly used for X-rays for image of inside of the body, this radiation is longer
than the wavelength of the gamma radiation but has lower frequency. One if its advantages is
that is commonly used as a medical apparatus and its disadvantages is that its harmful for too
much exposure.
The Ultraviolet radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation that is comes from the
sun. this radiation is commonly used in for disinfecting bacteria and also for creating
fluorescents, its advantages is that it helps activating the vitamin B in the body and its
disadvantages is that too much exposure may lead to damage the skin cells. This is called
ultraviolet radiation because it frequency is higher than the color violet in the visible lights.