Radiation, fussion/fission, and space

• Radiation is energy in motion
• Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of radiation from the nucleus of an unstable atom
• Isotopes are atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons, but the same amount of protons
• Radioisotope is an unstable isotope which decays or disintegrates spontaneously
• Half-life is the length of time it takes for half of the radioactive atoms of a radioisotope/radionuclide to decay
• Ionization is when radiation collides with neutral atoms or molecules and alters their structure by knocking off electrons, leaving behind ions
• Most atoms are stable, but radioactive ones are not and will stabilise by emitting radiation
• Alpha particles are a helium nucleus
• Alpha radiation is emitted by atoms with a low neutron to proton ratio
• Helium is an inert gas and is not harmful, it is dangerous because of the high speed
• Beta particles are high speed and high energy electrons or positrons
• High neutron to proton ratio atoms emit electrons by turning a neutron into a proton and then ejecting an electron
• low neutron to proton ratio atoms emit positrons by turning a proton into a neutron and ejecting a positron
• Gamma radiation is a form of EM radiation
• Gamma radiation contains photons moving at a very high speed (waves)
• Gamma radiation has the smallest wavelength and the most energy out of the EM spectrum
• Gamma radiation is produced by supernovae, neutron stars, lighting, radioactive decay, and nuclear explosions
• Alpha particles have a mass of 4amu, but beta and gamma have 0
• An alpha particle has a charge of +2
• Beta particles have a charge of +1 or -1
• Gamma rays have no charge
• Gamma rays move at the speed of light
• Beta particles move faster than alpha particles
• Alpha particles are the most ionizing radiation, gamma rays do not ionize atoms
• Gamma rays have the highest penetration ability
• Alpha particles are stopped by paper, Beta by aluminum, and gamma by lead
• Both Alpha and Beta radiation changes the element
• Gamma radiation only makes the element lose energy
• Radiation can get into the body through ingestion, marine products, drinking, and livestock products
• If animals digest radioactive soil and humans ingest livestock products radiation can get into the body
• Radiation can get into the body by direct inhalation of gaseous effluents or liquid effluents from nuclear facilities
• Radiotracers allow engineers and doctors to track the flow of fluids in machines, pipelines, or the body
• Radioactive elements can be used to inspect luggage, and welds in pipelines
• Carbon-14 can be used for radiometric dating, based on half-life
• Targeted injections of isotopes can be used in radiation therapy against cancerous cells
• Radioactive waste comes from nuclear medicine, rare earth metal mining, nuclear power generation, and research
• Radioactive waste can damage plant tissue and therefore limit plant growth
• Radioactive waste can cause cancer by mutating cells and damaging DNA.
• Becquerel measures radioactive decay or radiation emitted
• Sievert measures tissue damage caused by radiation