1. By: Emily McGuire, Daysha McMullen, Ja’Bria Coleman, India Lockhart
Radiation
By: Emily McGuire, Daysha McMullen, Ja’Bria Coleman, India Lockhart

2. What is Radiation?
Definition : the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization.
Example : sunshine
Ionizing radiation : higher-energy radiation that can cause damage to matter, particularly living tissue. At high levels it can be very dangerous.
Example : medical and dental x-rays
Used to diagnose ailments and some are treated with it to cure diseases
Occurs from uranium ores and nuclear wastes
Background radiation : ionizing radiation which is naturally and inevitably present in our environment.

3. What Causes Something To Be Radioactive?
Radioactive decay
Occurs in unstable nuclei - ones that don't have enough binding energy to hold the nucleus together due to an excess of either protons or neutrons.
Radioactivity - the act in which an atom releases radiation suddenly and spontaneously
Radioactivity is caused when an atom wants to give away some of its energy.

4. 3 Types of Radioactivity
Alpha Radiation : Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons bound together into a particle identical to a helium nucleus.
Produced during alpha decay
Named after the first letter in the Greek alphabet
Beta Radiation : A high-energy, high-speed electron or positron emitted in the radioactive decay of an atomic nucleus.
Also called “beta rays”
Produced during beta decay
Gamma Radiation : The product of radioactive atoms. Depending upon the ratio of neutrons to protons within its nucleus, an isotope of a particular element may be stable or unstable.
Also called “Gamma rays”
the most energetic form of electromagnetic radiation, with a very short wavelength of less than one-tenth of a nanometer.

5. Radiation Penetrating Power

6. Positive Ways We Use Radiation
Alpha Radiation : smoke detectors; Radioactive americium releases alpha radiation, which ionises the air inside the detector. Smoke from a fire absorbs alpha radiation, altering the ionisation and triggering the alarm.
Beta Radiation : tracers and monitoring the thickness of materials; Doctors may use radioactive chemicals called tracers for medical imaging; Radiation is used in industry in detectors that monitor and control the thickness of materials such as paper, plastic and aluminium.
Gamma Radiation : treatment of cancer, testing equipment and sterilising medical instruments;

8. Harmful Effects of Radiation
Chemical changes in cells that damage them
Cells may die or become abnormal, temporarily or permanently
Extent of the damage depends on the amount and duration of the exposure, as well as the organs exposed
Cancer
Large amount : sickness or death within hours or days

9. Chronic Exposure Cancer Benign tumors Cataracts
Potentially harmful genetic changes

10. Nuclear Radiation Explosions
Chernobyl, Ukrainian
Largest nuclear disaster
April 26, 1986
Overheating, steam explosion, fire, and meltdown
Evacuation of 300,000 people from Chernobyl and dispersing radioactive material across Europe
Deaths : 30 direct, 19 not entirely related and 15 minors due to thyroid cancer, as of 2008
Fukushima, Japan
March 12, 2011
A tsunami flooded and damaged the 5 active reactor plants; Loss of backup electrical power led to overheating, meltdowns, and evacuations
Deaths : 2 workers drowned during the flooding, and 1 died suddenly while carrying equipment during clean-up

12. Sources of Radiation Earth Sun and stars People
Terrestrial radiation; Radioactive materials (including uranium, thorium, and radium) exist naturally in soil and rock.
Water; water contains small amounts of dissolved uranium and thorium
Organic matter; both plants and animals contain radioactive carbon and potassium
Sun and stars
Cosmic radiation; send down to earth
People
Internal radiation; radioactive potassium-40 and carbon-14 inside their bodies from birth

13. Fun Facts Bananas are relatively radioactive
The american flags placed on the moon have all been bleached white due to radiation from the sun
The average smoker receives an annual dose of radiation equivalent to about 300 chest x-rays due to radioactive isotopes in the smoke.