Gamma Decay

What is it?

Gamma decay is the emission of electromagnetic radiation of an extremely high frequency i.e. very high energy, giving out excess energy in order to stabilize the unstable nucleus.

Example Equation:

How does the atom’s mass change?

It remains the same/unchanged

How far can it travel in air?

Gamma>beta>alpha

Gamma is the most penetrating

How can it be stopped?

A few feet of concrete or a few inches of lead(or other very dense materials)

Why is it dangerous?

Because of their high energy, they can pass through the human body and damage tissue/DNA

How is it useful?

• used in cancer screening devices

• surgical procedures to guide the removal of tumors