Question

Name the radiation which is responsible for the maximum biological damage.

Answer 1

The gamma radiation:

1. Gamma rays are that notorious radiation that is responsible for the maximum biological damage.
2. This is because Gamma rays have immense penetrating power. So it can penetrate the inner cells of the body, and ionize the cells.
3. It can cause cancer or other dangerous genetic disorder, as it can alter the cell and DNA structures.
4. The gamma rays are emitted from a nucleus of atoms or the annihilation of a positron with electrons.
5. The most intense sources of gamma rays are radioactive isotopes or radioactive metal sources.
6. These rays have ionizing potential and are electromagnetic in nature, and have the shortest wavelength and the highest photon speed.
7. The gamma radiations consist of photons, characterized by their energy, inversely proportional to their wavelength.
8. The gamma rays come from the nucleus of the atoms during the nuclear reactions.
9. During a collision with a low-energy photon, a relativistic electron can transfer to it a big part of its own energy; the photon can then have an energy of 100 MeV.

Thus, Gamma radiation is responsible for the maximum biological damage.