Nuclear Radiation

What is the form of alpha radiation?

Alpha radiation is a fast-moving particle.

What is the risk of external exposure to alpha radiation?

External exposure to alpha radiation is considered low risk.

What is the risk of internal exposure to alpha radiation?

Internal exposure to alpha radiation is high risk and can increase the risk of cancer.

What cancer can result from inhaling alpha emitters?

Inhaling alpha emitters can cause lung cancer.

Can alpha particles penetrate most matter?

No, alpha particles cannot penetrate most matter they encounter.

What is the greatest exposure to alpha radiation?

The greatest exposure to alpha radiation is inhaling radon and its decaying products.

What is the form of beta radiation?

Beta radiation is also a fast-moving particle.

What can long-term exposure to beta radiation cause?

Long-term exposure to beta radiation can cause rare acute exposure and chronic health problems.

How far do beta particles travel in open air?

Beta particles can travel several feet in open air.

What can internal beta emitters cause?

Internal beta emitters can cause tissue damage and cancer.

What is the form of gamma radiation?

Gamma radiation is in the form of photons.

What is the primary hazard during radiological emergencies?

Gamma radiation is the primary hazard during radiological emergencies.

At what speed do gamma rays travel?

Gamma rays travel at the speed of light.

What is meant by latent period in radiation exposure?

The latent period is the time between exposure and the development of cancer.

What happens when radiation doses exceed 50 rem?

High radiation doses greater than 50 rem kill cells, tissues, and organs.

What are the effects of low radiation doses (less than 50 rem)?

Low radiation doses damage cells, but biological effects are often not detected.

What are the common units for measuring radiation?

Common units include Curie (Ci), Rad, and Rem.

What are the SI units for measuring radiation?

SI units include becquerel (Bq), gray (Gy), and sievert (Sv).

How is 1 becquerel defined?

1 Bq is defined as 1 nuclear decay per second.

How much nuclear decay does 1 curie (Ci) represent?

1 curie (Ci) represents 37×10^9 nuclear decays per second.

What does 1 gray (Gy) indicate?

1 gray (Gy) indicates 1 joule of radiation absorbed per kilogram.

What is the relationship between rad and gray?

1 rad is equivalent to 0.01 gray (Gy).

How is biological risk from radiation measured?

Biological risk is measured in sieverts (Sv).

What does 1 sievert (Sv) equal in gray (Gy)?

1 sievert (Sv) is equal to 1 gray (Gy).

What is the function of the radiation weighting factor (Q)?

It measures the ability to transfer energy to the body.

Which particles have a weighting factor of 20?

Alpha particles, fission fragments, and heavy ions have a weighting factor of 20.

What is a Geiger counter used for?

A Geiger counter is used to measure radiation by detecting alpha, beta, and gamma rays.

What is a scintillation counter?

A scintillation counter measures radiation by detecting light emitted from a sensor.

What does a film badge do?

A film badge measures a worker’s exposure to radiation.

What is a cloud chamber used for?

A cloud chamber is used to detect radiation in a sealed chamber.

How does the body respond to low levels of radiation damage?

The body repairs damage caused by low levels of radiation.

At what radiation dose does Acute Radiation Syndrome occur?

Acute Radiation Syndrome can occur at high radiation doses.