Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of radiation by an element.
This theory{Radioactivity} was profounded by Becquerel in 1896 when he observed a crystal of Uranium Salt emitting radiation which penetrated an opaque material and left an effect on a photographic plate.
This discovery led to further investigation by other scientists and since then more than 40 radioactive elements have been discovered.
Some elements may have isotopes of which are stable and also a radioactive isotope, typical example is Carbon.
Carbon 14 is radioactive while the rest are stable.
Radioactive elements tends to emit radiation spontaneously. External forces e.g. temperature and pressure have no effect on the radiation emitted.
The radiations are strong enough to pass through opaque materials.
They tend to cause ionization when they pass through gases, thereby causing flouresence.
Radioactivity like any other chemical change often leads to a release of energy, the energy released is million times greater than other chemical change. It is normally called NUCLEAR ENERGY.
Nuclear energy is the energy that is released during nuclear reactions. It is generated by splitting the nucleus of an atom (nuclear fission) or by combining the nuclei of two atoms (nuclear fusion). Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to generate electricity. This process releases a large amount of energy, which is used to produce electricity without the direct emissions of greenhouse gases commonly associated with fossil fuels.
Types of Nuclear Energy
They are two main types of nuclear Energy:
Here's how nuclear fission works in a nuclear reactor:
1. Neutron Initiation: In a controlled environment, such as a nuclear reactor, a neutron is introduced to a heavy nucleus like uranium-235. When this nucleus absorbs the neutron, it becomes unstable and may split.
2. Nuclear Splitting: The unstable nucleus undergoes a process called nuclear splitting or fission, where it breaks into two or more smaller nuclei, along with the release of additional neutrons.
3. Chain Reaction: The newly released neutrons can then go on to initiate the fission of other nearby nuclei, creating a self-sustaining chain reaction. This chain reaction releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat.
4. Heat Generation: The heat produced by nuclear fission is used to heat water and produce steam. The steam then drives turbines connected to generators, which produce electricity.
Nuclear fission is a highly efficient and reliable way to generate electricity, and it doesn't produce greenhouse gas emissions during operation. However, it does produce radioactive waste, which must be carefully managed and stored. Safety measures are crucial to prevent accidents and control the release of radiation.
Here's how nuclear fission works in a nuclear reactor:
1. Neutron Initiation: In a controlled environment, such as a nuclear reactor, a neutron is introduced to a heavy nucleus like uranium-235. When this nucleus absorbs the neutron, it becomes unstable and may split.
2. Nuclear Splitting: The unstable nucleus undergoes a process called nuclear splitting or fission, where it breaks into two or more smaller nuclei, along with the release of additional neutrons.
3. Chain Reaction: The newly released neutrons can then go on to initiate the fission of other nearby nuclei, creating a self-sustaining chain reaction. This chain reaction releases a tremendous amount of energy in the form of heat.
4. Heat Generation: The heat produced by nuclear fission is used to heat water and produce steam. The steam then drives turbines connected to generators, which produce electricity.
Nuclear fission is a highly efficient and reliable way to generate electricity, and it doesn't produce greenhouse gas emissions during operation. However, it does produce radioactive waste, which must be carefully managed and stored. Safety measures are crucial to prevent accidents and control the release of radiation.
Back to Radiation:
TYPES OF RADIATION:
There are three main types of ionizing radiation:
1). Alpha Radiation (α): Alpha particles consist of two protons and two neutrons and have a relatively large mass. They have a positive charge. While they can be stopped by a sheet of paper or human skin, they can be harmful if emitted from a radioactive source inside the body.
2. Beta Radiation (β): Beta particles are high-energy, high-speed electrons (β-) or positrons (β+). They can penetrate human skin but are stopped by materials like plastic, glass, or a few millimeters of aluminum. Beta radiation can be hazardous if it comes into contact with or is ingested into the body.
3. Gamma Radiation (γ): Gamma rays are electromagnetic waves, similar to X-rays but with much higher energy. They are highly penetrating and require dense materials like lead or several centimeters of concrete to shield against them. Gamma radiation is particularly dangerous to living organisms because of its ability to penetrate and damage tissues.
In addition to these three primary types of ionizing radiation, there is also neutron radiation, which consists of neutrons emitted from certain nuclear reactions. Neutron radiation is highly penetrating and can be harmful to living organisms.
Non-ionizing radiation includes forms of radiation like visible light, radio waves, and microwaves. These types of radiation do not have enough energy to ionize atoms or molecules and are generally not harmful to human health.
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