radiation

The simple explanation of radiation is that it is an emission of energy  or particles. On a more definitive level though, radiation is energy that is in the form of waves that is emitted from a "body" as it changes from higher energy state to a lower energy state. Like most types of energy it can be classified as ionizing or non-ionizing. For the most part though, radiation (as it is used), refers to ionizing radiation.

There are 3 different types of radiation that are known as alpha, beta and gamma which are emitted from the nucleus of an atom that is unstable. Alpha radiation is the weakest level of radiation and the rays produced at this level can not penetrate paper. Beta radiation is the middle level of radiation and can penetrate through paper but are stopped at aluminum which is the point at which it can no longer penetrate. Finally, gamma radiation can penetrate through both paper and aluminum but can not penetrate lead.

Although Wilhelm Roentgen has been credited for the discovery of X-rays, It has been said that Marie Curie was the one who first discovered that only certain objects gave off these energy waves. She coined the phrase radioactivity and was anxious to discover more about these waves because of the element Uranium, that had recently been found, which also emitted these rays of energy. In 1898 Marie and Pierre Curie discovered Radium which is to this day the most radioactive element.

Radioactivity is used now, to describe the energy that a substance emits. Ionizing radiation is simply radiation that consists of highly energetic particles or waves. These are able to detach an electron from an atom or molecule. Non-ionizing radiation is a type of radiation that does not carry enough energy to completely remove an electron from an atom or moloecule.

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