Aren Berkenbush

-Paul Villard is credited with the discovery of the gamma ray. -The gamma ray was discovered in 1990 while studying radiation emitted from radium. HISTORY OF THE GAMMA RAY

FREQUENCY= 10 hertz or higher WAVELENGTH= less than 10 meters FREQUENCY & WAVELENGTH

- The gamma ray is used medically and commercially to kill cancer cells with radiotherapy -Sterilization of food -Sterilization of medical equipment HOW IS IT USED?

Dictionary definition of Gamma Ray: penetrating electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength -They are the most energetic form of light -Gamma rays have the shortest wavelengths and greatest energy How do they work? Gamma rays can be produced either as a result of a nuclear reaction or by the annihilation(destruction) of matter WHAT ARE THEY?/HOW DO THEY WORK?

-A high energy particle can collide with another particle -A charged particle can be accelerated -An element can undergo radioactive decay -A particle can collide and annihilate with its anti-particle radioactive decay HOW IS IT PRODUCED?

- Can be harmful to existing cells by causing cell damage -Can cause cell mutations -A living thing exposed to intense or prolonged gamma radiation can become seriously ill and die. HEALTH RISKS/HAZARDS

-Wavelength- The distance between successive crests of a wave. typical units: meters -Frequency- The rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period of time. typical units: hertz -Wavelength and Frequency are inversely related. -Speed= Wavelength x Frequency -A wave period is the time that it takes one crest of a wave to pass by a fixed point until the next crest passes the same fixed point. -Period= 1 / frequency WAVELENGTH/FREQUENCY INFO

-Amplitude: the maximum extent of a vibration or oscillation, measured from the position of equilibrium. AMPLITUDE

VIDEO