What is the measurement of radiation? Ionizing radiation

The concept of "radiation" is firmly rooted in our minds as a sharply negative and dangerous phenomenon. However, people continue to use it for their own purposes. What does it really represent? What is the measurement of radiation? How does it affect the living organism?

Radiation and radioactivity

The word radiation from Latin radiation is translated as "radiation", "radiance", therefore, the term itself denotes the process of radiation of energy. Spreads energy in space in the form of particle and wave flows.

There are different types of radiation - it can be thermal (infrared), light, ultraviolet, ionizing. The latter is the most dangerous and harmful, here also include alpha, beta, gamma, neutron and X-rays. It represents, invisible microscopic particles, capable of ionizing matter.

Radiation does not arise by itself, it is formed by substances or objects with certain properties. The nuclei of the atoms of these substances are unstable, when they decay, the energy begins to radiate. The ability of substances and objects to ionize (radioactive) radiation is called radioactivity.

Radioactive sources

Contrary to the opinion that radiation is only nuclear power plants and bombs, it should be noted that there are two types of it: natural and artificial. The first is present almost everywhere. In outer space, it can radiate stars, for example, our Sun.

On the Earth radioactivity is possessed by water, soil, sand, however the radiation doses in this case are not too great. They can vary from 5 to 25 microroentgen per hour. The ability to radiate is also the planet itself. Its subsoil contains a lot of radioactive substances, for example, coal or uranium. Similar properties have even bricks.

Artificial radiation was received only in the XX century. Man learned to work on unstable nuclei of substances, to obtain energy, to accelerate the motion of charged particles. As a result, the source of radiation was, for example, nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons, devices for diagnosing diseases and sterilizing products.

What is the measurement of radiation?

Radiation radiation is accompanied by various processes, therefore there are several units of measurement that characterize the effect of ionizing currents and waves. The names of what is measured by radiation are often associated with the names of scientists who have examined it. So, there are becquerels, curies, pendants and x-rays. For the objective assessment of radiation, the properties of radioactive materials are measured:

The effect of radioactivity on non-living tissues is measured as follows:

Effects of radiation on living organisms:

Effects on humans

Radiation radiation can cause irreparable biological changes in the body. Small particles - ions, penetrating into living tissues, can break the bonds between molecules. Of course, the effect of radiation depends on the dose received. The natural radiation background is not dangerous to life, and you can not get rid of it.

The radiation effect on a person is called irradiation. It can be somatic (corporeal) and genetic. Somatic effects of irradiation are manifested in the form of various diseases: tumors, leukemias, organ failure. The main manifestation is radiation sickness of various severity.

Genetic consequences of irradiation are manifested in violation of the organs of fertilization or affect the health of the following generations. One of the manifestations of the genetic effect are mutations.

Penetrating ability of radiation

Unfortunately, humanity has already managed to find out what kind of radiation is strong. The catastrophes that occurred in Ukraine and Japan have affected the lives of many people. Prior to Chernobyl and Fukushima, the majority of the world's population did not think about the mechanisms of radiation action and about the simplest security measures.

Ionizing radiation is a flux of particles or quanta, it has several species, each of which has its own penetrating power. The weakest are alpha rays or particles. The barrier to them is even skin and thin clothes. Danger occurs when directly ingested into the lungs or digestive tract.

Beta-particles are electrons, they are trapped by thin glass, wooden materials. X-rays and gamma rays penetrate into objects and tissues better. They can be detained by a lead plate, a meter thick, or several tens of meters of reinforced concrete. Neutron radiation occurs during artificial activity, during a nuclear reaction.

To protect against it, materials containing hydrogen, beryllium, graphite, water, polyethylene, paraffin are used.

Conclusion

Broadly speaking, radiation is a process of radiation that comes from some body. Usually this term is used in understanding exactly ionizing radiation - a stream of elementary particles that can affect objects and organisms. The effect of radiation can be different, it all depends on the dose.

With natural radiation we come across every day, as it surrounds us everywhere. Its amount is usually small. Artificial radiation can be much more dangerous, and its consequences are more serious.