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The Basics
Atoms
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Isotopes
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Units
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Fission
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Neutrons
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Applications
<h2>Radiation</h2> <p>Radio waves radiate from transmitters and carry energy to your radio antennae. Microwaves radiate from an emitter in an oven and carry energy into your food. Infrared light radiates from the sun and carries energy to warm the earth. Visible light radiates from a lamp, your eye detects that energy. Ultraviolet light radiates from the sun or a tanning bed and carries energy to your skin. Gamma rays radiate from atoms as they decay carrying energy away from the atom. X rays radiate from a machine at the dentist's office with enough energy to pass through your mouth onto a photograph. Cosmic rays radiate from a supernova out in space they have enough energy to cross galaxies.</p> <p>Radiation comes in many forms. Radio waves, microwaves, infrared, visible light, ultraviolet light, x-rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays are all forms of radiation. It is a form of energy. The only difference between radio waves and visible light is the wavelength. Visible light waves are less than a micrometre long. Radio waves can be a few metres or kilometres long. Imagine if your eye could see all radiation, from radio waves to gamma rays: how confusing that would be! In fact our eyes are only sensitive to a restricted range of wavelengths which we know as visible light. When atoms decay, they need to lose energy to reach a more stable state. To do that they emit gamma rays. Collectively, alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays are all called 'radiation'. They are ejected (or radiated) from an unstable atom as it decays.</p> <p> <a href="basics6.html" target="_top">next ></a></p>
