RPC M2

Radiation

• is the emission of energy as electromagnetic waves or as moving subatomic particles, especially high-energy particles that cause ionization.

• can travel through a vacuum and does not require a medium to propagate.

• can penetrate various materials to varying degrees, depending on the type of radiation and the properties of the material.

• can be both beneficial and harmful to living organisms, depending on the type, amount, and duration of exposure.

inverse square law

The intensity of radiation decreases with distance from the source, following an __________.

Ionizing Radiation

- has enough energy to remove tightly bound electrons from atoms, which can cause ionization of the atom.

- Examples include X-rays and gamma rays.

Non-ionizing Radiation

- has less energy and does not have the ability to ionize atoms.

- Examples include radio waves, microwaves, and infrared radiation.

Particulate Radiation

is composed of subatomic particles that are emitted from the nucleus of an atom during radioactive decay.

Alpha particles

are positively charged and consist of two protons and two neutrons.

Beta particles

are high-speed electrons that are emitted from the nucleus during radioactive decay.

Neutrons

are neutral particles that are emitted from the nucleus during nuclear reactions.

Electromagnetic radiation

is a type of energy that travels through space in the form of electromagnetic waves.

Gamma rays

are high-energy electromagnetic radiation that is produced during nuclear reactions and the decay of radioactive elements.

X-rays

are a form of electromagnetic radiation that is used in medicine to image the interior of the body.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation

is a form of electromagnetic radiation that is present in sunlight.

Visible light

is a form of electromagnetic radiation that can be seen by the human eye.

Radio waves

are a form of electromagnetic radiation that is used for communication and navigation, including television and radio broadcasting, cell phone communication, and GPS.

Inverse Square Law

• states that the intensity of a physical quantity (such as light, sound, or gravity) that spreads out radially from a point source is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source.

• Describes the relationship between radiation intensity and distance

inversely

Radiation Intensity from the x-ray tube varies _______ with the square of a distance from the target.

Radiation absorbed dose

• is a measure of the amount of energy that is absorbed by a material or an organism as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation.

• Expressed in units of joules per kilogram (J/kg)

• is a crucial concept in radiation protection and safety, as it is used to quantify the potential harm to living organisms resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation.

• used for all kinds of radiation for any material

• unit used that refers to dose received by patients

Equivalent dose

• is a measure of the biological effect of ionizing radiation on human tissue.

• It is expressed in units of sievert (Sv).

• takes into account the type of radiation and the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of each type of radiation in causing harm to living tissue.

• is used to compare the biological effects of different radiation exposures and to set radiation protection guidelines.

• amount of radiation received by radiation workers

• unit used that refers to the dose received by radiation workers