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What exactly is radioactive?
Radioactivity is the spontaneous emission of radiation in the form of particles or high energy photons resulting from a nuclear reaction. A substance that contains unstable atomic nuclei is considered to be radioactive.
What is radioactivity in simple words?
Radioactivity is the release of energy from the decay of the nuclei of certain kinds of atoms and isotopes. These are particles with enough energy to knock electrons off atoms or molecules. The degree of radioactivity depends on the fraction of unstable nuclei and how frequently those nuclei decay.
How do you explain radioactive?
Radioactivity is the term used to describe the natural process by which some atoms spontaneously disintegrate, emitting both particles and energy as they transform into different, more stable atoms. This process, also called radioactive decay, occurs because unstable isotopes tend to transform into a more stable state.
Is all radiation harmful?
Not all radiation is harmful, and whether or not it is harmful depends on the type of radiation in question and how much (the so-called ‘dose’) you are exposed to. Some types of radiation are known as ‘ionising’.
What is radioactive made of?
thing is made of atoms. Radioactive atoms are unstable; that is, they have too much energy. When radioactive atoms spon- taneously release their extra energy, they are said to decay.
What is radioactive in earth science?
Radioactivity is the tendency of certain atoms to decay into lighter atoms, a process that emits energy. Radioactivity also provides a way to find the absolute age of a rock.
What is radioactivity used for?
Today, to benefit humankind, radiation is used in medicine, academics, and industry, as well as for generating electricity. In addition, radiation has useful applications in such areas as agriculture, archaeology (carbon dating), space exploration, law enforcement, geology (including mining), and many others.
Is radioactive the same as nuclear?
The rays themselves are called nuclear radiation. A nucleus that spontaneously destroys part of its mass to emit radiation is said to decay (a term also used to describe the emission of radiation by atoms in excited states). A substance or object that emits nuclear radiation is said to be radioactive.
What can Radioactive do to you?
Exposure to very high levels of radiation, such as being close to an atomic blast, can cause acute health effects such as skin burns and acute radiation syndrome (“radiation sickness”). It can also result in long-term health effects such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.