0
Nuclear radiation can affect atoms in a couple of different ways. It commonly makes them hotter. But also, when the radiation includes neutrons, they can be captured by the atoms around. This can cause those atoms to do a number of things, including:
- Undergoing fission, often releasing more neutrons
- Absorbing the neutron
- undergoing decay other than fission (even if the atom is not radioactive)
- bouncing the neutron off, and getting hot in the process
If the atom absorbs the neutron, its mass number changes, making it a different isotope. This often makes it a radioactive isotope, so it would decay at some later time.
The fact that certain atoms will undergo fission when they are struck by a neutron is what causes nuclear chain reactions used in nuclear power plants.
Read more: How_does_nuclear_radiation_affect_atoms
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
What types of atoms release nuclear radiation?
Isotopes of elements with unstable nucleus release nuclear radiation. Generally theinstabilityis related to the neutron to proton ratio in the nucleus of an atom.
Why do spent nuclear fuels generate heat?
After the nuclear fuel is spent the fuel is radioactive. This radiation causes decay heat. The result of the radiation causes movement of atoms, converting it into thermal energy.
What is the difference between waves used in microwave ovens and nuclear radiation?
Both microwave radiation and nuclear electromagnetic radiation are members of the same species, but they're as different as babies are from elephants, to wit, microwaves are much, much less powerful than nuclear electromagnetic radiation. Microwave radiation, for instance, makes atoms shift their position (and magnetic fields) very, very quickly. Now the definition of heat is "movement," so the faster anything moves, the "hotter" we say it is. Ergo, something placed in a microwave-radiation-field becomes noticeably "hotter." But comparing microwave and nuclear electromagnetic radiation is like comparing a face-slap to a 20-ton BOMB. Nuclear radiation comes from atomic nuclei, so "nuclear radiation" can strike, penetrate, damage, and even destroy atoms in their path. Big difference, capiche? Huge.We left out the part about nuclear particulate radiation. There is no comparison there. Additionally, nuclear electromagnetic radiation is ionizing radiation while microwave radiation is not.
Why are gamma rays not shown in a nuclear reaction?
A nuclear reaction, such as a nuclear bomb or in a nuclear power plant, creates nuclear radiation, which is different then gamma radiation. Gamma radiation is produced primarily by the natural decay of high energy states in atomic nuclei (gamma decay). Or from cosmic sources such as pulsars and radio galaxies. Nuclear radiation is caused by the high energy reaction of atomic particles being broken apart (splitting atoms)
What type of radiation do nuclear weapons emit?
Nuclear weapons emit nuclear radiation, with gamma radiation being the most common and dangerous.
How radiation affected by surface temperature?
Nuclear radiation is not affected at all, but radiation by Electromagnetic Radiation is. This is a straight Physics topic, not Nuclear Energy.
How is nuclear radiation affected by temperature?
Not at all
Which part of atoms does nuclear radiation come from?
nucleus, of course. that's why its called nuclear.
What types of atoms release nuclear radiation?
Isotopes of elements with unstable nucleus release nuclear radiation. Generally theinstabilityis related to the neutron to proton ratio in the nucleus of an atom.
Where does the radiation come from and how is it made in a nuclear bomb?
Ultimately all nuclear radiation comes from the excess nuclear binding energy of unstable atoms. Nuclear binding energy is the energy of the strong nuclear force and weak nuclear force that holds the protons and neutrons of atomic nuclei together. When an unstable atom releases its excess energy to become a more stable atom, one or more types of nuclear radiation carries away that energy.All nuclear bombs contain some unstable atoms of radioactive elements (e.g. uranium, plutonium, tritium) in their construction to make it possible for them to work, but these radioactive elements are usually only slightly radioactive and the radiation (mostly alpha) is usually easy to shield.However when these bombs are detonated fission of uranium and/or plutonium atoms produces very large numbers of fission product atoms which are much more unstable than the original atoms and emit much harder to shield beta and gamma radiation as they decay to more stable atoms. Also both fission and fusion reactions inside the bomb generate neutron radiation in a brief pulse at the moment of detonation, this neutron radiation (unlike other types of nuclear radiation) can make other atoms radioactive that were not previously radioactive. Both gamma and neutron radiation are nearly impossible to shield.
Why do spent nuclear fuels generate heat?
After the nuclear fuel is spent the fuel is radioactive. This radiation causes decay heat. The result of the radiation causes movement of atoms, converting it into thermal energy.
What is the difference between waves used in microwave ovens and nuclear radiation?
Both microwave radiation and nuclear electromagnetic radiation are members of the same species, but they're as different as babies are from elephants, to wit, microwaves are much, much less powerful than nuclear electromagnetic radiation. Microwave radiation, for instance, makes atoms shift their position (and magnetic fields) very, very quickly. Now the definition of heat is "movement," so the faster anything moves, the "hotter" we say it is. Ergo, something placed in a microwave-radiation-field becomes noticeably "hotter." But comparing microwave and nuclear electromagnetic radiation is like comparing a face-slap to a 20-ton BOMB. Nuclear radiation comes from atomic nuclei, so "nuclear radiation" can strike, penetrate, damage, and even destroy atoms in their path. Big difference, capiche? Huge.We left out the part about nuclear particulate radiation. There is no comparison there. Additionally, nuclear electromagnetic radiation is ionizing radiation while microwave radiation is not.
Why are gamma rays not shown in a nuclear reaction?
A nuclear reaction, such as a nuclear bomb or in a nuclear power plant, creates nuclear radiation, which is different then gamma radiation. Gamma radiation is produced primarily by the natural decay of high energy states in atomic nuclei (gamma decay). Or from cosmic sources such as pulsars and radio galaxies. Nuclear radiation is caused by the high energy reaction of atomic particles being broken apart (splitting atoms)
What part of the human body is the first to be affected by nuclear rediation?
U spelled radiation wrong dumbo.
What are the signs of nuclear radiation?
There are no immediate signed of nuclear radiation.
If the nuclear power plant in Japan does emit radiation, will any other countries be affected?
I'm not sure if this right but i was told if the wind blows towards a country for more than 2 days, that country may be affected by radiation.
Radioactive decay is when unstable atoms?
give off nuclear radiation
