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Recursos educativos

What Types of Radiation Are There?

What Types of Radiation Are There?


  1. Alpha Radiation 


    < >Most alpha radiation is not able to penetrate human skin. 






    Alpha radiation is not able to penetrate clothing. 

  2. Beta Radiation 


    < >Beta radiation may travel several feet in air and is moderately penetrating. 


    Beta-emitting contaminants may be harmful if deposited internally. 


    Clothing provides some protection against beta radiation. 

  3. Gamma and X Radiation 


    Gamma radiation or x rays are able to travel many feet in air and many inches in human tissue. They readily penetrate most materials and are sometimes called "penetrating" radiation. 

    X rays are like gamma rays. X rays, too, are penetrating radiation. Sealed radioactive sources and machines that emit gamma radiation and x rays respectively constitute mainly an external hazard to humans. 

    Gamma radiation and x rays are electromagnetic radiation like visible light, radiowaves, and ultraviolet light. These electromagnetic radiations differ only in the amount of energy they have. Gamma rays and x rays are the most energetic of these. 

    Dense materials are needed for shielding from gamma radiation. Clothing provides little shielding from penetrating radiation, but will prevent contamination of the skin by gamma-emitting radioactive materials. 

    Gamma radiation is easily detected by survey meters with a sodium iodide detector probe. 

    Gamma radiation and/or characteristic x rays frequently accompany the emission of alpha and beta radiation during radioactive decay. 

