Risks from Nuclear Radiation

Question 1

What can Beta and Gamma rays penetrate?

Answer 1

Beta and gamma rays can penetrate the skin and soft tissues to reach the delicate organs inside the body. This makes beta and gamma sources more hazardous than alpha when outside the body.

Question 2

What happens when Beta and Gamma rays penetrate the body?

Answer 2

If they get inside (swallowed, breathed in, etc.) their radiation mostly passes straight out without doing much damage.

Question 3

Can Alpha radiation penetrate the skin?

Answer 3

Alpha radiation can’t penetrate the skin.

Question 4

Is Alpha radiation dangerous if it gets inside the body.

Answer 4

It’s very dangerous if it gets inside the body because Alpha sources do all their damage in a very localized area

Question 5

What do the collisions of radiation entering your body do?

Answer 5

These collisions cause ionization which damages or destroys the molecules.

Question 6

What causes ionization

Answer 6

When radiation enters the body, it will collide with molecules in your cells.

Question 7

To what extent

Answer 7

The extent of the harmful effects depends on how much exposure you have to the radiation and its energy and penetration