Radiation

• Alpha

  • Nature: 2 protons and 2 neutrons
  • Charge: +2
  • Mass: Relatively large
  • Speed: Slow
  • Ionizing Effect: Least penetrating
• Beta

  • Nature: Negatively charged having a mass of electron
  • Charge: -1
  • Mass: Very small
  • Speed: Fast
  • Ionizing Effect: More penetrating as it penetrated 1- inch-thick aluminum
• Gamma

  • Nature: An electromagnetic wave
  • Charge: 0
  • Mass: No mass
  • Speed: Speed of light (299,792 km/s)
  • Ionizing Effect: Excellent penetrating power as it can penetrate a thick lead
• Curie (Ci)


  1 Ci = 3.7 x 10^10 Bq
• Becquerel (Bq):


  1Bq = 2.7 x 10^-11 Ci
• Decay/s


  1Bq = 1 decay/second
• R.E.M (Roentgen Equivalent in Man)


  Unit of Radiation Damage
• Rad or gray


  Unit of amount of exposure