What are the different types of radiation? Radiation is defined as the process wherein energy passes through vacuum. There are many different kinds of waves that are involved here. There are many different types of energy. The vacuums they pass through are different kinds as well. Therefore, different types of radiation have been discovered. There are four main types of radiation. These four kinds of radiation are alpha radiation, gamma radiation, beta radiation, and x radiation. Aside from these four, there is also neutron radiation. This occurs in nuclear power plants wherein industrial radioactive sources are emitted from.
Alpha radiation types are types of radiation wherein a heavy and short particle. This is usually emitted helium nucleus. There are many different characteristics of these types of radiation. Most of the different alpha radiation cannot infiltrate our skin. There are, however, many alpha emitting materials. These materials are very harmful if humans are able to inhale or swallow them. Also, these materials are harmful when they get in contact with open wounds. There are different ways to measure alpha radiation, too. Among the many tools that can detect alpha radiation, the most common is the GM or the Geiger-Mueller. The problem is that most alpha detecting instruments become useless when thin layers of other materials are placed above it. Some of these materials are paper, water, and even dust. The main reason why this happens is that alpha radiation just does not penetrate.
Beta radiations, on the other hand, are types of radiation wherein the ejected particle is an electron rather than helium nucleus. There are also distinct characteristics of the beta types of radiation. First, these types of radiation are able to travel in air. Unlike alpha radiation, beta radiation can penetrate to things. It can also penetrate the germinal layer of the human skin. This is the layer of the skin that produces new skin cells. Therefore, getting vast amounts of beta radiation into the skin will result to skin injuries. If taken internally, beta radiation can cause harm. In order to detect beta radiation, there are also instruments and tools that can be used. The GM probe can also be used to detect beta radiation. However, there are times that beta radiation cannot be detected. A material that you can use to protect yourself from beta radiation is, well, cloth.
The gamma radiations as well as the x radiations are types of radiation that penetrates electromagnets. The main characteristics of the two types of radiation include being able to travel in the air. They are also called penetrating radiation. This is why x rays and other mechanisms that bring about gamma and x radiation are enclosed. You will need to get very dense materials to be able to protect yourself from these two. Clothing can provide a tiny amount of protection against both the gamma and the x radiation. However, given that these two are extremely hazardous, you may want to get more protection than just your clothes. These two are detected by using survey instruments that have sodium iodide detectors.