chaos_Leader
Smash Lord
It's been a pleasure debating w/ you Aesir.
for those concerned about the destructive qualities of radioactive material:
Radiation comes in three types: Alpha decay, Beta decay and Gamma. they are particles ejected through the process of nuclear decay of unstable isotopes.
Alpha radiation is potentially the most deadly. it is alpha particles (two protons and two neutrons with no electrons, atomic mass of 4 and a positive charge). On the other hand, alpha particles only travel a very very short distance, an inch at the most, before they pick up stray electrons and form a Helium atom. This kind of radiation is only dangerous if you ingest or touch an emitter of alpha particles for a long period of time. But if you are in such close contact, the heavy alpha particles can cause serious damage to the cells in your body.
Beta radiation is a little less dangerous, but travels a little further. a Beta particle is nothing more than an electron (atomic mass of near 0 and negative charge) ejected at high speeds. it penetrates a little further than alpha particles but since an electron/beta particle weighs next to nothing it will cause far less damage. it will travel 2-3 inches unobstructed before it is absorbed by other particles in the vicinity.
Gamma radiation is high-frequency high-energy electromagnetic radiation. very similar to ultraviolet and X-rays. What makes gamma radiation dangerous is its difficulty to contain, Gamma rays can travel through much more than lesser wavelength radiation, in fact, at this moment you are probably getting small doses of gamma radiation from sun. Gamma rays are stopped with very dense materials like lead, gamma rays can go between most of the atoms of less dense substances. Despite its difficulty to contain, Gamma radiation is comparatively far less harmful than alpha or beta radiation. a single high energy photon has enough energy to dislodge a single electron and fling it another direction; at high doses it will cause problems.
When controlled, gamma radiation has beneficial medical uses, such as the destruction of a tumor.
Just remember that radiation cannot 'stick' to anything, it is emitted by radioactive material in the process of nuclear decay, much the same way a hot piece of iron will emit light and heat.
for those concerned about the destructive qualities of radioactive material:
Radiation comes in three types: Alpha decay, Beta decay and Gamma. they are particles ejected through the process of nuclear decay of unstable isotopes.
Alpha radiation is potentially the most deadly. it is alpha particles (two protons and two neutrons with no electrons, atomic mass of 4 and a positive charge). On the other hand, alpha particles only travel a very very short distance, an inch at the most, before they pick up stray electrons and form a Helium atom. This kind of radiation is only dangerous if you ingest or touch an emitter of alpha particles for a long period of time. But if you are in such close contact, the heavy alpha particles can cause serious damage to the cells in your body.
Beta radiation is a little less dangerous, but travels a little further. a Beta particle is nothing more than an electron (atomic mass of near 0 and negative charge) ejected at high speeds. it penetrates a little further than alpha particles but since an electron/beta particle weighs next to nothing it will cause far less damage. it will travel 2-3 inches unobstructed before it is absorbed by other particles in the vicinity.
Gamma radiation is high-frequency high-energy electromagnetic radiation. very similar to ultraviolet and X-rays. What makes gamma radiation dangerous is its difficulty to contain, Gamma rays can travel through much more than lesser wavelength radiation, in fact, at this moment you are probably getting small doses of gamma radiation from sun. Gamma rays are stopped with very dense materials like lead, gamma rays can go between most of the atoms of less dense substances. Despite its difficulty to contain, Gamma radiation is comparatively far less harmful than alpha or beta radiation. a single high energy photon has enough energy to dislodge a single electron and fling it another direction; at high doses it will cause problems.
When controlled, gamma radiation has beneficial medical uses, such as the destruction of a tumor.
Just remember that radiation cannot 'stick' to anything, it is emitted by radioactive material in the process of nuclear decay, much the same way a hot piece of iron will emit light and heat.
