Question

What is radiation?

Answer 1

Radiation is the emission and propagation of energy in the form of waves, rays or particles. There are three main types of radiation:

• Non-ionizing radiation: This is the release of energy from the lower-energy region of the electromagnetic spectrum. This includes light, radio, microwave, infrared (heat), and ultraviolet light.
• Ionizing radiation: This is radiation with sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atomic orbital, forming an ion. Ionizing radiation includes x-ray, gamma rays, alpha particles, and beta particles.
• Neutrons: Neutrons are particles found in the atomic nucleus. When they break off of the nucleus, they have energy and act as radiation.

Examples include:

• A burning candle emits radiation in the form of heat and light.
• The Sun emits radiation in the form of light, heat, and particles.
• Uranium-238 decaying into Thorium-234 emits radiation in the form of alpha particles.
• Electrons dropping from one energy state to a lower state emit radiation in the form of a photon.